Stroke risk factors are determined by heredity, lifestyle, and sometimes the environment. You should be familiar with the risk factors. Knowing whether you are at a higher risk could help you recognize the signs of a stroke faster and save your life. Knowing the risk factors could also help you lower your risk of having a stroke. By making changes in your life that affect the likelihood of your suffering a stroke, you could prevent a stroke from happening to you.
Some risk factors for stroke you cannot change. If you have had a stroke or heart attack before, your chances of stroke are 10 times higher than someone who hasn’t. Men are more likely to suffer a stroke than women. But women are more likely to die from a stroke than a man. A family history of stroke increases your risk of stroke. And the risk of stroke increases with age. The general rule is that after 55 your risk of stroke doubles every ten years.