STROKE RISK FACTORS
What are Stroke Risk Factors?
Stroke risk factors are the circumstances that increase ones risk of having
a stroke. They can be divided into non-modifiable (something you can't do
anything about) and modifiable (something you can alter and improve your
risk) factors. Since treatment after a stroke has occurred is still limited,
preventing the stroke in the first place, or preventing a recurrence,
is the major goal of current therapy.
Non-modifiable Risks:
The
risk of stroke increases dramatically with age,
essentially doubling each decade after the age of 50. Gender also plays a
role, with men having a slightly higher risk of stroke and women having a
higher risk of a stroke being fatal if it occurs. There may be some increase
in risk of stroke for people of certain ethnic backgrounds, such as African
Canadians or persons of Hispanic origin, but whether this is due to a higher
incidence of modifiable risks such as high blood pressure is unclear.
Modifiable Risks:
The
major modifiable risk factors are listed in the table below.
In
the middle column is the 'relative risk' of having the factor. This is the
multiple by which your risk of stroke is increased by having the factor. It
varies somewhat with age, sex and ethnic background.
In
the right column is the prevalence of the risk factor. This is the
percentage of people in the general population that have the risk factor at
any point in time. From a general viewpoint, the most important risk factor
is that one which has both a high relative risk and prevalence.
High blood pressure (hypertension) holds
that honor and it's treatment has become a cornerstone in reducing stroke
risk.
On
the other hand, the abnormal irregular heart rhythm called 'atrial
fibrillation' carries the highest individual risk but is not very prevalent.
Coexistent heart disease, diabetes melitus, smoking, excess alcohol use and
high cholesterol also contribute to the risk of stroke.
| Risk Factor |
Relative
Risk |
Prevalence (%) |
| Atrial Fibrillation |
5.6-17.6 |
1 |
|
Hypertension |
4.0 - 5.0 |
25 – 40 |
| Cardiac (Heart) Disease |
2.0 – 4.0 |
10 – 20 |
|
Diabetes Melitus
(sugar diabetes) |
1.5 – 3.0 |
4 – 8 |
| Smoking |
1.5 – 2.9 |
20 – 40 |
| Alcohol abuse |
1.0 – 4.0 |
5 - 30 |
|
Hyperlipidemia
(high cholesterol etc.) |
1.0 – 2.0 |
6 - 50 |
Sacco RL, Neurology
1995;45(Suppl 1):S10-S14
What can I do about
it?
You can do a
lot. Consult with your doctor. If you have atrial fibrillation,
controlling the rhythm or using a blood thinner will reduce risk. If you
have high blood pressure, make sure it is treated and well controlled.
There is recent evidence that certain types of blood pressure medications
may work better than others in controlling the risk of stroke. Be sure to
ask if your medication is appropriate.
Stop smoking.
Get help to do so if you need it.
Reduce your
alcohol intake to no more than 2 glasses of wine per day or the
equivalent.
If you have
diabetes or high cholesterol, aim for the best control of these conditions
as possible with medication, exercise, diet and weight control. If you are
unsure what weight is appropriate for you, consult your doctor. Checking
your body mass index below will also give you an idea.
Enter your weight in Kilograms and your height in centimeters and press
"Calculate"
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