Risk Factors That May Cause A Stroke

A stroke interrupts the flow of blood to a part of the brain. Strokes can be fatal, but since many of the causes of strokes are lifestyle-related, the risk of a stroke can be reduced significantly. The question is, then:  “What are some of the lifestyle choices that you might be making that increase the chances of having a stroke?”

Some of the lifestyle factors that serve as risks for a stroke include:

High Blood Pressure

High Blood pressure happens when blood flows through the blood vessels at a higher pressure than what it should be. The normal blood pressure should be range around 120/80 mm hg. The terrible thing about this condition is that it usually happens with no warning signs or sometimes symptoms, so individuals live with it for several years without knowing. The symptoms, overtime, cause a stroke because it damages the blood vessels over time and causes the formation of clots in the brain. 

Smoking

Cigarette smoke releases toxic chemicals, including carbon monoxide in to the body, which can damage the cardiovascular system to increase its blood pressure. Smoking is also one of the main reasons for a build up of plaque in the arteries, which can cause blood clots and heart damage. These can reduce the flow of blood to the brain.

High Cholesterol

It is also crucial that you get your cholesterol level checked, because high amounts of cholesterol in the bloodstream causes a build-up of plaque in the blood vessels, leading to a blood clot.