- Age.
Stroke may happen toanyone, but with age the risk of stroke significantly increases. In fact, after 55 years of ageit doubles and keeps doubling every 10 years after that.
- Gender.
More men have strokes earlier in life, while more women have more strokes after menopause.
- Heredity.
Risk of stroke increases if there is a family history of stroke.
- TIA or prior strokes.
A person who already had a stroke or TIA before is more likely to be afflicted again.
Most common risk factors due to health conditions:
- High blood pressure·
- Diabetes
- Carotid and Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart Disease
- Sickle cell disease
- High cholesterol
Other risk factors are defined by lifestyle choices like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, poor diet and such. |
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1. Ischemic Stroke
This is most common of all types of stroke (accounts for 87%). Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is obstructed by fatty deposits lining the blood vessel (carotid artery located in the neck) walls. As the result, a blood clot forms, blood flow is reduced and brain is deprived of oxygen and gets permanently damaged.
2. Hemorrhagic (bleeding)
Sometimes vessels get weakened and can no longer handle the blood flow properly. An area of a vessel balloons up, causing aneurysm. When aneurysm is left undetected and untreated, it eventually ruptures and bleeds into the brain, causing stroke.
3. TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)
This type of stroke is often called a "mini stroke". Mechanics behind TIA and ischemic stroke are similar, the only difference is that in TIA blockage is "transient" (temporary). TIA lasts less than 5 minutes and does not cause permanent damage to the brain. However, it is a warning sign that should be taken very seriously. TIA symptoms are identical to those of stroke. |
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