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| Stroke |
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This interactive tool estimates your risk of stroke and provides personalized
tips for prevention. Anyone can use it, but it’s most accurate for people who
have never had a stroke, transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke), or heart
disease. If you have any of these conditions, be sure to talk to your doctor
about your risk.
Take a few minutes to answer some questions and find out your risk. It doesn’t
tell you if you'll have a stroke or not, but it does tell you where to focus
your prevention efforts. Because the best way to fight stroke is to take steps
to prevent it.
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Questionnaire :
To estimate your risk of Stroke, take about 2 to 3 minutes to answer some
questions about your health, lifestyle and personal background.
Please fill in these questions to access your risk of Stroke.
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| 1. What is your sex? |
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| 2.
What is your age?
Please enter your age
Please Enter Valid Age. |
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Years |
| 3. Have you ever had a stroke? |
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| 4. What is your height?
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Feets |
Inches |
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| 5.
What is your weight (in pounds)?
Please enter your weight
Please enter Valid Weight |
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| 6. Do you have a history of
atrial fibrillation or other heart condition? |
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| 7. What is your waist size? |
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| 8. Do you eat 5 or more
servings of fruit and vegetables per day?
A serving is one medium apple, banana or orange, 1 cup of raw leafy vegetable
(like spinach or lettuce), ½ cup of cooked beans or peas, ½ cup of chopped,
cooked or canned fruit/vegetable or ¾ cup of fruit/vegetable juice. |
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| 9. Do you eat 3 or more
servings of whole grains per day (wheat bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice,
oatmeal, whole grain breakfast cereal, bran or popcorn)?
A serving is one slice of bread, 1 ounce of breakfast cereal or ½ cup of cooked
cereal, pasta or rice. |
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| 10. Do you smoke cigerattes? |
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| 11. Do you walk (or do other
moderate activity) for at least 30 minutes on most days, or at least 3 hours
per week? |
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| 12. Have you ever been told
that you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or have you ever been given
blood pressure medication? |
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| 13. Have you ever been told
that you have diabetes or a problem with high blood sugar? |
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| 14. Have you ever been told
that your total cholesterol level is high? |
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| 15. What is your total
cholesterol level? |
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| 16. Has anyone in your
immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother) had a heart attack or a
stroke? |
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| 17. Do you consider yourself
to be Hispanic/Latino? |
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| 18. Which category best
describes your race? |
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Back to top
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Risk factors :
Most scientists agree that these things affect the risk of stroke.
Some may apply to you, but others may not.
Factors that increase a person's risk of stroke but cannot be changed include:
Age and stroke :
Most people who have strokes are over the age of 55, and the risk of stroke
increases with age - the older a person is, the higher the risk of stroke.
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Sex and stroke :
Both men and women have strokes, but men have a higher risk than women.
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Family history and stroke :
A person with a close relative who has had a stroke or heart attack (especially
before the age of 65) may be at higher risk of stroke.
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Race, ethnicity and stroke :
African Americans tend to have a higher risk of stroke than other racial and
ethnic groups.
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Most risk factors for stroke can be modified to reduce risk, either through
lifestyle changes or through medication, if needed. These include:
Tobacco smoke and stroke :
The chemicals in tobacco smoke increase the build up of plaque in artery walls
and promote the development of blood clots that can cause strokes. Smoking
increases the risk of stroke by itself, and it can also increase the effects
other stroke risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension),
and high cholesterol. Smokers have more than twice the risk of stroke compared
to non-smokers. Exposure to tobacco smoke, including cigar and pipe smoke,
increases your chance of stroke. New evidence shows that even passive smoke
(the smoke from someone else's cigarettes) may increase the risk of stroke.
Tobacco use also increases your risk of heart attack, peripheral vascular
disease, emphysema, bronchitis, diabetes, Stroke and cancers of the lung,
bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, lip, mouth, tongue, larynx, throat and
esophagus. For many people, quitting smoking is the single best thing they can
do do to improve their health.
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Weight, waist size and stroke :
The risk of stroke goes up as body weight increases. This is
especially true for people who carry extra body fat around the waist (called
"apple shaped"). Extra weight puts extra strain on the whole body, increasing
the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Maintaining a
healthy weight not only decreases the risk of stroke, it also decreases the
risk of heart attacks and cancer of the colon, kidney, breast and uterus.
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Diet and stroke :
There are many dietary factors that you can use to lower your risk of
stroke. Foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains decrease the risk of
stroke and other diseases, like heart disease.
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Physical activity and stroke :
Exercise is one of the best ways to help maintain a healthy weight. Not only
does exercise decrease the risk of stroke, it also helps prevent other diseases
such as heart disease, Stroke, diabetes and colon cancer. Even just 30 minutes
of moderate exercise (like walking) daily can decrease your risk of disease.
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Blood pressure and stroke :
Blood pressure is the force created when the heart pumps blood. When a person
has high blood pressure (hypertension), the heart has to pump harder and the
blood vessels are under increased pressure, which can lead to injury of the
vessels and stroke. Hypertension is also associated with an increased risk of
heart disease and kidney damage. Some people are able to control their blood
pressure with diet and exercise, while others need medication.
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Diabetes and stroke :
People with diabetes do not have normal control of their blood sugar levels,
and the high blood sugar that results from this condition can cause damage to
the body, including the nerves and blood vessels. Diabetes by itself increases
the risk of stroke and it also increases the risk of stroke associated with
other conditions, like hypertension, smoking and high cholesterol. Avoiding
smoking, staying physically active and maintaining a healthy weight can all
help control or prevent adult-onset diabetes, and medication is also available
if needed.
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Blood cholesterol and stroke :
There are different types of cholesterol in the body. If the blood
cholesterol is at unhealthy levels it can lead to damage of the blood vessel
walls. Blood tests can show if your LDL is too high or if your HDL is too low.
Diet, exercise, weight control and avoiding smoking can all help control your
cholesterol levels. Your doctor can also prescribe medications if necessary.
Back to Risk Factors
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Fact Analysis
What is a stroke?
Stroke is a very serious problem that develops when there is an
interruption in the flow of blood to the brain. Also known as cerebrovascular
accidents or "brain attacks", there are two main types of strokes. If a blood
vessel is blocked by clots or other particles, it is called an ischemic stroke.
If a blood vessel breaks and bleeds, it is called a hemorrhagic stroke.
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain. When blood flow to part of the
brain stops, that part of the brain starts to die within minutes. The dying
cells then release chemicals that can damage other cells. The effects of a
stroke depend on which part of the brain is starved of blood and for how long.
Because of this, it is very important that anyone showing symptoms of a stroke
(see below) get medical treatment as soon as possible.
Related to strokes are episodes called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). A TIA
(often called a "ministroke") is caused by a short interruption in blood flow
to the brain. The effect, though, is only temporary, and symptoms last less
than 24 hours. However, a TIA can be an important warning sign because about
one third of people who have a TIA will have a stroke in the future. Anyone who
experiences a TIA should see their doctor immediately to learn about special
steps (including possible medications and surgery) that can decrease the risk
of a future stroke.
Use of certain kinds of street drugs, like cocaine, amphetamines and heroin,
also increases the risk of stroke.
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How common are strokes?
Stroke is the third leading cause of death, after coronary heart
disease and cancer. Each year there are about 600,000 strokes in the US, and
strokes kill over 150,000 Americans each year. Over 15% of people who have had
a stroke die within 30 days, and 15-30% of people who survive a stroke are
permanently disabled.
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Who is at risk for having a stroke?
Anyone can have a stroke but most people who have strokes are over the
age of 55. Strokes affect both men and women. African Americans tend to be at
highest risk, but people of all races and ethnicities suffer from strokes.
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How can you prevent a stroke?
There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of stroke:
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don't smoke
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keep your blood pressure under control
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stay physically active
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if you have diabetes, treat it
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eat a healthy diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
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maintain a healthy weight
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keep your blood cholesterol under control
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avoid illegal drug use
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Who should be screened?
For people without symptoms, there are no good screening tests for
predicting stroke. Your doctor may do an exam to listen for partial blockage of
the vessels in your neck that supply blood to your brain. If you have any
symptoms of blocked blood vessels or special risk factors, your doctor may want
to do other tests to study the vessels. Anyone who develops such symptoms (see
below), should see a doctor immediately.
People of all ages should be periodically screened for risk factors of stroke:
diabetes, high blood pressure, poor blood cholesterol levels and
overweight/obesity.
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What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Sudden changes in your strength or sensation could indicate a
transient ischemic attack or a stroke. If you experience any of the symptoms
below, see a doctor immediately. Every minute is important when it comes to
limiting damage and saving brain cells.
Symptoms of stroke:
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Sudden weakness or numbness in your face, body, arms or legs, especially if
only one side is affected
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Sudden loss of vision or problems seeing in one or both eyes
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Sudden confusion, inability to speak or understand what others are saying
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Sudden dizziness, instability or inability to stand, walk or coordinate
movement
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Sudden severe, unexplained headache
Back to Fact Analysis
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