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Minimising stroke risk

Ten modifiable risk factors account for the majority of stroke risk. These are1:

  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • High cholesterol
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes type 1 and 2
  • Cardiovascular disease (especially artherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation)
  • Excessive alcohol intake
  • Mental health conditions (such as stress, anxiety or depression)

While these are the top ten modifiable risk factors, the information under modifiable risk factors outlines the full list of stroke risk factors.

These risks can very often be changed with medication, lifestyle changes or both2. Risk factors and their management differ depending on whether you are focusing on preventing a first stroke (primary prevention) or preventing a subsequent stroke (secondary prevention).

Other risk factors cannot be changed, these are known as non-modifiable risk factors:

  • Age
  • Biological sex
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Genetics
  • Medical conditions

 

 
 

References

  1. Martin J O’Donnell, Siu Lim Chin, Sumathy Rangarajan, Denis Xavier, Lisheng Liu, Hongye Zhang, Purnima Rao-Melacini, et al. Global and Regional Effects of Potentially Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Acute Stroke in 32 Countries (INTERSTROKE): A Case-Control Study. Lancet. 2016. 388(10046):761–75.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30506-2
  2. Amelia K Boehme, Charles Esenwa, Mitchell S V Elkind.  Stroke Risk Factors, Genetics, and Prevention. Circ Res. 2017. Feb 3;120(3):472-495. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.116.308398

STROKE RISKS

Read about risk factors we can change 

LIFESTYLE

ENVIRONMENT

MEDICAL
CONDITIONS

Read about risk factors we cannot change 

AGE

BIOLOGICAL
SEX

ETHNICITY

GENETICS

MEDICAL
CONDITIONS

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