Forsyth Medical Center 
Stroke
Stroke Risk Factors
| While some risk factors cannot be affected by treatment or lifestyle changes, you can change or treat other factors. |
Risk factors that can be changed, treated or medically managed:
- high blood pressure
- diabetes mellitus (in some cases)
- heart disease
- cigarette smoking
- history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
- high red blood cell count
- high blood cholesterol and lipids
- lack of exercise or physical activity
- obesity
- excessive alcohol use
- drug abuse, especially cocaine or intravenous drugs
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Do you have questions about the risk factors for stroke? Visit our Health Library for answers. |
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Risk factors that cannot be managed or changed
- age
- race
- diabetes mellitus (in some cases)
- heredity or genetics
- prior stroke or heart attack
Other factors that affect stroke risk
- where you live - strokes are more common in the Southeast
- temperature, season and climate - deaths from stroke occur more often in times of extreme temperatures
- socioeconomic factors - some unexplained evidence indicates stroke is more common among lower-income people
