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While we tend to focus more on heart attacks when we think about cardiovascular disease, strokes are actually a serious and quite common health concern, too. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.,according to the American Heart Association (AHA). (It ranks just after heart disease, cancer, accidents and lower respiratory diseases,the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, and tops Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease, influenza and suicide.)
“Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. Primary and secondary prevention are important to decreasing this number,” saysMatthew Starr, M.D., interim director of the UPMC Stroke Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
That “prevention” part is what we’re here to study up on today. While 5 of theAHA’s stroke risk factors are out of our control—age, family history, gender, race and prior stroke or heart attack—there are 8stroke risk factors that are related to lifestyle habitswhich we can adjust. Plus, there are another 6risk factorsthat the jury is still out about, but will likely fall under that umbrella of risk factors we can control.
This is why the AHA estimates that about 80% of strokes are likely preventable, meaning they’re related to “risk factors are under our control and can be modified,” Dr. Starr explains.
These 7 Things Could Make You More Likely to Get Heart Disease, According to the American Heart Association
8 Things That Make You More Likely to Have a Stroke
1. You smoke.
Nicotine and carbon dioxide in smoke can damage the cardiovascular system, the AHA says. Current smokers are at 2 ½ times higher risk for having a stroke compared to those who have never lit up, according to a 2020 study published in theJournal of the American Heart Association. This stroke risk factor is strongest for those who smoke the most; those who use one to 12 cigarettes per day had 2.3 times higher risk, while individuals who smoked more than 12 cigarettes per day had 2.8 times higher risk. (Psst…if you fall into this camp, theCDC has several free resourcesto help you find support to kick the habit.)
2. You have diabetes.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase risk of stroke, the AHA confirms. Learn more aboutthe difference between type 1 and type 2, plus learn more about how to work with your medical care team to manage them and live healthily with each.
3. You eat an unhealthy diet.
The standard American diet typically includes too many processed foods and too few fruits and vegetables. “Diets low in salt, saturated fats and sugary foods help reduce stroke risk,” saysAmanda Ganem, M.D., cardiologist atWestmed Medical Groupin White Plains, New York. Discover theAHA’s suggested elements of a stroke risk-reducing diet. In general, an eating strategy similar to the blood pressure-minded, low-sodiumDASH dietand the heart-healthyMediterranean diettend to reduce stroke risk as well.
4. You don’t get enough exercise.
Along with diet, this is one stroke risk factor that is linked to several other risk factors—not racking up therecommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per weekcan increase risk for stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being categorized as having obesity. Walking is a stellar place to start, and muscle-building moves are also important.
5. You are categorized as having obesity.
Extra body weight may speed up the rate at which the brain ages, the AHA says, and is also related to risk for stroke (plus heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure). Losing 5 to 10 pounds can significantly reduce risk, they add. That’s a lot easier said than done, many times, so we asked dietitianshow to lose weight when you don’t know where to start.
6. You have been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol.
Extra cholesterol in the blood can accumulate into clots—the exact cause of many strokes. A low HDL (AKA “good” cholesterol) might increase stroke risk for men as well, the AHA says. Check out the top5 habits to break to lower cholesterol, plus10 foods that lower cholesterol naturally.
7. You’re not keeping tabs on your already-diagnosed arterial or heart disease.
Carotid artery disease (narrowing in the artery that connects the neck and brain), peripheral artery disease (narrowing of blood vessels that connect leg and arm muscles), atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder), coronary heart disease and heart failure diagnoses are all risk factors for stroke. Work with your medical care team to monitor, manage and treat these conditions to reduce complications, the AHA advises.
8. You’re undertreating your sickle cell anemia.
This genetic disorder causes the body to generate “sickled” red blood cells. Their unique shape makes them “stickier” to blood vessel walls, which can potentially lead to blocked arteries that trigger a stroke. Since this is genetic, the only reason this lands on the “stroke risk factors you can control” list is that proper maintenance can reduce risk for many complications—including stroke. So again, keep in touch with a medical provider to monitor, manage and treat this condition.
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6 Things ThatMightMake You More Likely to Have a Stroke
The medical research community is still gathering more evidence, but the general consensus is that these details might also increase stroke risk:
The Bottom Line
“The top 5 things to monitor or treat to reduce the risk of stroke are blood pressure, tobacco use, diabetes, diet and physical activity, with blood pressure being the very most vital. These require the individual to make decisions and to monitor their own health and activities,” Dr. Starr says. And while that can sound a bit daunting, “these give patients some control over their situation and also decrease stroke risk.”
If several of these stroke risk factors resonate with you, a nurse practitioner, doctor, a dietitian and other medical professionals can help, Dr. Ganem adds.
“People should visit their physician at least once a year to check their blood pressure and blood work to look for these potential medical problems. As appropriate, an electrocardiogram or ECG can be performed to look for heartbeat issues, such as atrial fibrillation which have been associated with the risk for stroke. Referrals to a cardiologist may also be appropriate depending on a person’s overall risk,” she says.
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