Book
Introduction to Stroke and the Stroke Care Unit
- Risk Factors
The principal modifiable risk factors for both major types of stroke include:
Hypertension.
Elevated cholesterol levels.
Diabetes mellitus.
Insulin resistance (an inadequate response to insulin), as occurs in type 2 diabetes.
Cigarette smoking.
Obesity, particularly when excess weight is concentrated around the abdomen.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
Excessive alcohol consumption.
Physical inactivity.
An unhealthy diet, such as one high in saturated fat, trans fat, and calories.
Depression or other psychological stressors.
Cardiac disorders that promote formation of blood clots in the heart, which may detach and travel through the blood vessels as emboli, such as myocardial infarction or atrial fibrillation.
Infective endocarditis: Infection of the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the heart valves.
Use of cocaine or amphetamines.
Vasculitis.
Many of these factors also increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a common cause of ischemic stroke. In atherosclerosis, arteries become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits that form on their walls.
Coagulation disorders that cause excessive clotting increase the risk of ischemic stroke, whereas disorders that increase bleeding raise the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Hypertension is a particularly important risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
