Risk Factors for Stroke

Many factors influence your risk for stroke, including heredity, age, race and lifestyle choices. Conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and high cholesterol raise the risk of stroke. Taking medications to manage these conditions and following a physician's instructions will help lower your risk.

Lifestyle risk factors that can be changed to lower your risk include:

• Cigarette smoking
• Lack of exercise or physical activity
• Obesity
• Excessive alcohol use
• Drug abuse, especially cocaine or intravenous drugs