Young Adults Unconcerned about Stroke Risk Behaviors (Page 2)

Risk Factors for Stroke

Age: The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes.
Heredity/Race: Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke. African-Americans have a higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians.
Gender: Stroke is more common in men than in women, but more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women.
Health Conditions: Having high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, sickle cell disease, or high blood cholesterol raise your risk of stroke.
Prior Stroke, TIA, or Heart Attack: The risk of stroke is many times greater for someone who has already had one. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage, and if you’ve had one or more TIAs, you’re 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn’t. If you’ve had a heart attack, you’re at higher risk of having a stroke, too.

Warning Signs of Stroke

sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you, or someone near you should experience these symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1.

Facts About Stroke

About 795,000 Americans each year have a stroke.
Stroke kills more than 137,000 people a year, making it the third leading cause of death, after diseases of the heart and cancer.
About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females.

Do you have any personal stories about suffering from stroke? How has it affected your life? Tell us below in the comments!

_{Photo: iStockphoto}

Ann Pietrangelo is the author of “No More Secs! Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Multiple Sclerosis,” a memoir. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and The Author’s Guild, and a regular contributor to Care2 Healthy & Green Living and Care2 Causes. Follow on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Duane B.

7:33AM PST on Mar 9, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

March 9
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Siti R.

3:22AM PST on Jan 4, 2013

there are also "mini-strokes" that go undetected for years and then showed as dementia. my mum is one such case.

January 4
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Pat A.

7:58AM PST on Dec 14, 2012

December 14
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Petalia G.

4:27PM PST on Dec 12, 2012

Good information presented to be easily absorbed and remembered - thank you!

December 12
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Mari G.

4:05PM PST on Dec 12, 2012

Thanks for the information, but why did the race factors only list black and white people?

Magdika Cecilia P.

3:45AM PST on Dec 11, 2012

thank you

December 11
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Carol M.

7:17PM PST on Dec 9, 2012

Thanks good information.

December 9
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Veronica C.

8:47AM PST on Dec 9, 2012

I had a 2 TIA'S and i just turned 50. The first one I had in Feb and I was given medicine and I skipped a few times taking the pills and had another in the same place 6 months later. I now take my pills all the time. I did read 75% of strokes can be prevented so I feel I may live another 35 years.

Aaron B.

12:02PM PST on Dec 7, 2012

Thanks