Variables that could elevate your risk for stroke

The World Stroke Organization notes that more than 12.2 million individuals experience stroke each year across the globe. Perhaps even more telling, the WSO reports that, globally, one in four people over age 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime.

Stroke is indeed a threat to public health. However, despite the prevalence of stroke, individuals are not helpless against it. Various risk factors for stroke are within individuals’ control, and it’s never too early for adults to prioritize stroke prevention. With that in mind, the following are some of the most common risk factors for stroke, courtesy of the WSO.

• Elevated systolic blood pressure: The American Heart Association notes that an elevated systolic blood pressure means the upper number on a blood pressure reading is between 120 and 129. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure your blood is pushing against the artery walls each time the heart beats. Individuals diagnosed with elevated systolic blood pressure are urged to discuss the ways to lower that number, as the American Stroke Association notes high blood pressure is the most significant controllable risk factor for stroke.

• High body mass index: A 2022 study published in the journal PLOS One found that body mass index was associated with stroke risk among diabetes patients. The study found that the risk of ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot or fatty plaque blocks a blood vessel in the brain, was higher among obese patients compared to patients who are overweight or normal-weight.

• Smoking: The WSO reports that someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day is six times more likely to have a stroke compared to a non-smoker. One of the links between smoking and stroke risk surrounds carbon monoxide and nicotine. Smoke from cigarettes contains both carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in a smoker’s blood, and nicotine, which makes a smoker’s heart beat faster. Those variables combine to raise blood pressure, which has already been noted as a significant risk factor for stroke.

• Alcohol consumption: A 2022 study published in the journal Neurology examined the link between alcohol consumption and stroke. The study found that high levels of alcohol consumption are associated with a higher risk for all types of stroke, and even moderate intake, defined as between seven to 14 drinks per week for women and seven to 21 drinks per week for men, was associated with higher risk for all types of stroke.

These are not the only common risk factors for stroke. In fact, the WSO reports high fasting glucose, air pollution, low physical activity, poor diet, high LDL (i.e., “bad”) cholesterol, and kidney dysfunction are some additional common risk factors for stroke. 

Though stroke affects more than 12 million individuals across the globe each year, many of its more common risk factors are manageable. More information about stroke is available at stroke.org.  overweight or normal-weight.

• Smoking: The WSO reports that someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day is six times more likely to have a stroke compared to a non-smoker. One of the links between smoking and stroke risk surrounds carbon monoxide and nicotine. Smoke from cigarettes contains both carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in a smoker’s blood, and nicotine, which makes a smoker’s heart beat faster. Those variables combine to raise blood pressure, which has already been noted as a significant risk factor for stroke.

• Alcohol consumption: A 2022 study published in the journal Neurology examined the link between alcohol consumption and stroke. The study found that high levels of alcohol consumption are associated with a higher risk for all types of stroke, and even moderate intake, defined as between seven to 14 drinks per week for women and seven to 21 drinks per week for men, was associated with higher risk for all types of stroke.