Controllable Risk Factors Many of the things that increase your stroke risk can be controlled.  The diseases that increase risk can be treated.  Lifestyle choices such as eating and exercise habits can be changed. Treatable Diseases That Increase Stroke Risk: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries.  If you have high blood pressure, your heart is pumping harder to move blood through the body.  This can weaken blood vessels and damage major organs such as the brain.  Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke. Blood Pressure Guidelines -A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal.  In general, the lower the blood pressure, the better. -A blood pressure reading of 120-39/80-89 is considered pre-hypertension.  People with pre-hypertension are at an increased risk for high blood pressure, or hypertension. -A blood pressure reading of 140/90 or above is considered high blood pressure, or hypertension. -High blood pressure is a common condition, affecting 65 million Americans - 1 in 3 adults -High blood pressure increases stroke risk 4-6 times -High blood pressure is the most common cause of stroke -High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is caused when the two upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat rapidly and unpredictably, producing an irregular heartbeat.  AF raises stroke risk because it allows blood to pool in the heart.  When blood pools, it tends to form clots which can then be carried to the brain, causing a stroke.  Long-term untreated AF can also weaken the heart, leading to heart failure. -AF affects approximately 2.2 million Americans -AF increases stroke risk up to 6 times -About 15% of all people who have a stroke have AF -AF is most often found in people over the age of 65 and in people who have heart disease or thyroid disorders Learn more about Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke... High Cholesterol Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that our bodies make on their own, but we also get it from fat in the foods we eat.  Certain foods (such as egg yolks, liver or foods fried in animal fat or tropical oils) contain cholesterol.  High levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream can clog arteries and cause a stroke or heart attack.  It can also increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk for heart disease -- another important stroke risk factor. -Combined HDL and LDL cholesterol should fall below 200mg/dL. -Nearly 107 million American adults have a total blood cholesterol of 200 or higher. Click here to read more about Cholesterol and Stroke Diabetes In people with diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.  Without insulin, the body can't process sugar, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body.  In addition to their diebetes, most diabetics have other health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity/excess weight.  These problems increase their risk of stroke even more. -According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million Americans with diabetes -2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from stroke or heart disease -Diabetes increases stroke risk 2-4 times Lifestyle Choices That Increase Stroke Risk Tobacco Use/Smoking Among other things, smoking damages blood vessel walls, speeds up the clogging of arteries, raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder.  Smoking doubles the risk of stroke.  Smoking women have special concerns.  If a woman smokes, has a history of migraines, and takes oral contraceptives, her stroke risk is increased as much as 34 times. Alcohol Use Drinking lots of alcohol has been linked to stroke in some studies.  Drinking more than 2 drinks per day may increase stroke risk by 50%. Obesity/Excessive Weight Excess weight puts a strain on the entire ciculatory system.  It also makes people more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes -- all of which can increase your risk for stroke.