Risk factors that can usually be prevented or controlled:
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation
- Artery Disease, Including Plaque in The Carotid Arteries to The Brain And Arteries to The Legs or Arms (Peripheral Artery Disease/Peripheral Vascular Disease)
- Obesity, Physical Inactivity
- A Poor Diet, High in Saturated and Trans Fat and Cholesterol
The hospital also offers a number of wellness programs that can help with stroke risk factors, including nutrition counseling, stress management, screenings and smoking cessation. We also offer a variety of weight-loss programs, including bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass and gastric banding.
Risk factors that can't be changed:
- Age - Stroke Risk Doubles For Each Decade After Age 55
- Gender - Strokes Are More Common Among Men, But More Women Die of Stroke Than Men. Pregnancy and Birth Control Pills Increase Women's Risk
- Family History of Stroke
- Race - African Americans Have a Higher Risk of Stroke Death Than Caucasians
- Prior Stroke, Heart Attack or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack, a Kind of "Warning Stroke" With Stroke Symptoms But No Lasting Damage)