Understanding Stroke Causes: What You Need To Know

A stroke, or brain attack, occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, which can be due to a blockage or bleeding in the brain. This is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate attention, as brain cells can start dying within minutes due to a lack of oxygen. While anyone can experience a stroke, certain factors increase the risk, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking, birth control pills, and a history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or mini strokes. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, race, gender, and family history also play a role in stroke risk. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for stroke prevention and early intervention to minimize the potentially devastating consequences of this serious condition.

High blood pressure

There are several factors that can increase your risk of high blood pressure. These include family history, age, obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, alcohol consumption, and stress. It is important to note that high blood pressure often has no apparent symptoms, so regularly checking your blood pressure is crucial.

Heart disease

The condition of your cardiovascular system is, to a large extent, determined by your lifestyle. While age and genetic factors play a role, much cardiovascular disease would be preventable if more people ate a healthy diet, performed more physical activity, maintained a healthy weight and blood pressure, and avoided smoking.

The biggest cause of death from heart disease and stroke is the progressive blocking of blood vessels with a build-up of fatty substances and cellular waste (plaques). This build-up of plaque in the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle can trigger angina or a heart attack. When this occurs in arteries supplying blood to the brain, it can cause a stroke.

In addition, people with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than those without. Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease or suffer a stroke.

Diabetes

High blood sugar levels can also damage blood vessels and nerves, making a stroke more likely. People with diabetes have longer periods of high blood sugar than those without diabetes, especially if the condition is not well-controlled. This makes a person with diabetes more likely to have a stroke.

Additionally, people with diabetes are more likely to have other conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol.

To prevent a stroke, people with diabetes should manage their blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight. They should also be aware of the signs of a stroke and seek quick medical attention if they experience any symptoms.

Some lifestyle changes that can help lower the risk of a stroke include:

• Controlling blood sugar levels
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and low cholesterol
• Exercising regularly
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting alcohol consumption

Smoking

The harmful effects of smoking extend beyond the smoker. Secondhand smoke also raises the risk of stroke for those exposed. People living with smokers are twice as likely to experience a stroke compared to those living with non-smokers.

Quitting smoking is an effective way to reduce the risk of stroke. While it may take up to ten years for a former smoker's risk of stroke to become similar to that of a non-smoker, quitting can reverse the damage to arteries and lower blood pressure.

Alcohol and drug use

• Hypertension: Drinking too much alcohol increases your blood pressure, and high blood pressure is associated with over half of all strokes. Regularly drinking can lead to damage to your circulatory system, which increases your risk of stroke.
• Atrial Fibrillation: Excessive alcohol consumption can trigger a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AF). People with AF are five times more likely to experience a stroke. AF can cause blood to clot in the heart, and if these clots break up or dislodge, they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
• Diabetes: Alcohol can change how your body responds to insulin, the hormone that helps your body turn sugar in your blood into energy. This can lead to type 2 diabetes, which is linked to a higher chance of stroke.
• Being overweight: Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to weight gain or make it harder to lose weight, and being overweight increases your risk of having a stroke.
• Liver damage: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause damage to the liver and prevent it from producing substances that help your blood to clot. This can increase your chances of bleeding in the brain, known as a hemorrhagic stroke.

In addition to alcohol, illegal drug use, such as cocaine, and the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, can also increase your risk of stroke.

Frequently asked questions