Risk Factor For Stroke: Treatable

Major

• Hypertension

• Heart disease, esp. atrial fibrillation

• Cigarette smoking

• Transient ischemic attacks
    

Secondary

• Increased serum cholesterol / lipids

• Physical inactivity

• Obesity
    

Less Well Documented

• Excessive alcohol intake / drug abuse

• Acute infection*

* Not listed in the AHA publication

   
Some risk factors for stroke can modified medically, surgically, or by changes in diet, exercise, or abstinence from harmful substances.  Of these controllable risk factors, hypertension is the most important [Wolf PA, et al, 1992].  Hypertension accelerates the atheroscelerosis process, thereby increasing the risk of athero-thrombotic cerebral infarction.  It also increases the risk of cerebral hemorrhage in part by promoting the development of cerebral vascular microaneurysms  (Charcot-Bouchard aneurysms) [Williams GH, Brauwald E. In: Braunwald E, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, McGraw Hill. 1987:1024].

From: Acute Ischemic Stroke: New Concepts of Care
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