5 Reasons You Might Be at High Risk For Stroke

Almost 900,000 people and their families are affected each year in the United States by strokes. Many do not survive, but for those who do, the results can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. They say knowledge is the best defense. Read on to find out five reasons you might be at high risk for stroke.

Are you overweight?

Being overweight or obese significantly increases your risk for having a stroke. Get off the couch and get some exercise. Even 30 minutes per day can lead to a healthier body. Cut those extra calories, control your intake of animal fats, adopt a diet full of whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables and watch the pounds melt off, decreasing your risk. An added benefit will be that your blood pressure and blood cholesterol will go down, and you will feel better and have more energy. A healthier diet and exercise regimen can also help to control diabetes, another stroke risk.

Do you smoke?

Because it causes atherosclerosis and makes the blood more likely to clot, smoking doubles your risk for having a stroke. No matter how long you have smoked or how old you are, giving up smoking can cut the risk of suffering a stroke in half. Sure, quitting is not easy, but the effort is well worth it to improve your health. Try nicotine replacement therapy with gums, sprays, or patches, join a stop-smoking support group or read self-help books to aid you in the process. Stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can do to avoid a stroke.

Are you over the age of 55?

For every decade over the age of 55, your risk for stroke doubles. While stroke is most commonly seen in the elderly, many younger people also suffer from strokes. Up until the age of 75, more men have strokes than women, but women tend to die more often from them. Use of birth control pills may contribute to this.

What is your family history and heredity?

If an immediate family member, such as a parent, grandparent, sister, or brother has ever suffered a stroke, you are far more likely to as well. Due to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, African Americans are more likely to have a stroke than Caucasians.

Have you had a prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

If you have already had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, also known as "warning strokes," you are at a higher risk of having a larger one. TIAs typically produce stroke-like symptoms only lasting a short time. If you have had temporary blurred vision, severe headache, tingling, dizziness, limited use of one side of the body, or disorientation from a TIA, you are 10 times more likely to suffer a stronger one than someone of the same age and sex who has not suffered one.

Only cancer and heart disease kill more people in the U.S. each year than do strokes. Unfortunately, more than half of all people who suffer from a stroke had no symptoms beforehand, which is why preventive screening is so important. Often held in churches, community centers, or local gyms, mobile screenings now make the process quick, easy, and convenient. At the screening, a skilled sonographer will perform an ultrasound of the carotid arteries, a procedure that is the best indicator of stroke and heart disease.