Learn About Strokes, Risk Factors, and Prevention

What is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to or within the brain. The name “stroke” itself is translated from the Greek word Apoplexia, which was used to describe a fit of sudden anger and rage – but was later used to describe strokes themselves in history. One stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States. Watch this video from New York-Presbyterian Hospital to learn more.

There are two main types of strokes. They are:

  • Ischemic Stroke: When a blood clot causes a blockage in the brain and blood cannot reach certain areas.
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: When a blood vessel in the brain bursts, and blood cannot travel any further.

Other stroke terms you may hear are the following:

  • Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini-Stroke): When a blood clot temporarily causes a blockage in the brain. Symptoms present the same as a stroke but may be temporary in nature and still require medical attention.
  • Brain Stem Stroke: A very rare type of stroke that occurs in the brain stem instead of the brain’s vasculature, and can be devastating. These can be ischemic or hemorrhagic.
  • Cryptogenic Stroke: A stroke of unknown cause, possibly caused by an irregular heartbeat, a structural problem in the heart, artery hardening, genetics, or a blood clotting disorder. These make up about a third of ischemic strokes, and can also be hemorrhagic.

Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Coloradoans. The human brain has 86 billion neurons, and 1.9 million of them die every minute during a stroke. Strokes can leave people experiencing complications such as paralysis or loss of muscle movement, difficulty speaking or swallowing, loss of vision, smell, hearing, taste, or feeling, memory problems and thought processing difficulties, emotional problems, pain, changes in behavior or ability to care for themselves, or even death. Time lost is brain lost! This is why it is very important to know the signs of stroke and to get those who are experiencing one care as fast as possible.

What are the Risk Factors for Having a Stroke?

Risk Factors for Stroke

Image Credit: CHI Health

There are important factors in a person’s health and lifestyle that puts them at more risk for stroke. These include (but are not limited to):

There are also certain risk factors that can’t be helped, such as a person’s gender, ethnicity, genetics, and environmental factors. However, these can be mitigated – speak to your healthcare provider if you think you are at risk for any of the above mentioned risk factors for stroke and to learn what you can do to lower your risk.

Women and Stroke Risk

Women are especially at risk for having a stroke – in the United States, stroke is the #3 killer of women and kills more women than men. One in 5 women will have a stroke, and it kills 55,000 more women than men each year. While the risk factors of stroke written above apply to both genders, women have some special factors to consider for their stroke risk:

  • Women experience “mini-strokes” or Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) differently than men. If a woman is briefly experiencing tingling, numbness, instability, vision disturbance, or temporary speech and/or movement difficulties, they need to be taken seriously and should seek care immediately.
  • In women, migraines with aura can more than double the risk of a stroke, and this risk increases if they are also smoking.
  • Women are at special risk for high blood pressure. Some who have never had HBP will develop it during pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia can also increase a women’s risk of stroke for years after pregnancy.
  • Oral contraception/birth control increases the risk of having a stroke, especially if a woman is also smoking in conjunction.
  • After menopause, there is a higher chance of women developing HBP, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
  • Among women, Black women have the highest prevalence of stroke.
  • Among women, Native American women are at greater risk of stroke and twice as likely to die from one. They are also at greater risk of developing HBP and diabetes.
  • Women have a higher rate of aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage, compared to men. This presents a major risk factor for stroke.

It is very important for women and their loved ones and others around them to know the signs of stroke and when to call for help. Women should also speak to their healthcare providers about their stroke risk to take steps to reduce it. Women may also qualify for CDPHE’s Women’s Wellness Connection program and WISEWOMAN, check out the links for more information and to see if you qualify.

Refer to these sources for more information: American Stroke Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada, UTSW Medicine and the infographic below (American Stroke Association).

How Can Strokes Be Prevented?

Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors. About a quarter of those who have experienced a stroke will experience another, and these changes can also help mitigate that risk. Ways to prevent strokes include:

  • Control your blood pressure: High Blood Pressure is a leading cause of stroke, and keeping it under control is a very powerful prevention measure. Keep up with your provider’s recommendation for treatment and lifestyle changes.
  • Stop Smoking: The chemicals in cigarettes wreak havok with the body’s cardiovascular system. Speak to your healthcare provider about ways you can quit, call the Colorado Quitline, or visit CDPHE for more resources.
  • Get Active and Lose Weight: Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. It doesn’t have to be all at once!
  • Control Diabetes: If you are a diabetic, you are more at risk for experiencing a stroke. Keep up with your provider’s recommendations.
  • Improve Your Diet: A healthy caloric intake, 5 or more fruits or vegetables per day, whole grains, and cutting back on sodium and sugars can all help reduce your stroke risk.
  • Control Your Cholesterol: Talk to your healthcare provider about your cholesterol concerns and follow their recommendations for diet and treatment to reduce your risk of experiencing a stroke.
  • Take Care of Your Heart: Conditions like Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Cardiomyopathy, and others increase your stroke risk. It is very important to keep up with your health provider’s recommendations.
  • Drink in Moderation, if You Choose to: Cutting back on alcoholic drinks will help reduce your stroke risk. Speak to your healthcare provider about your alcohol intake and options to reduce it.
  • Listen to Your Healthcare Team and Follow Recommendations: Last but certainly not least, the most important thing you can do is to keep up with treatment and lifestyle changes if your healthcare providers feel you are at risk for a stroke.

Visit these links for more information: American Stroke Association – Stroke Prevention and Preventing Another Stroke, Genentech – StrokeAwareness,  NHS- Stroke Prevention, CDC – Prevent Stroke: What You Can Do, NIH – Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada – Risk and Prevention.

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