Stroke: here are the risk factors

It is the third leading cause of death in Western countries. That’s who threatens our brains.

In industrialized countries, stroke is the third leading cause of death, but holds the sad record as a cause of disability. Here’s who risks the most.

It is a killer not to be underestimated (only cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms surpass it), and even in our country it still reaps too many victims.

It is estimated that in Italy more than 200,000 new cerebrovascular events occur every year and that the subjects who have had a stroke and survived, with more or less disabling consequences, are about 900,000.

Enemies are old acquaintances

These figures could be reduced, if only we paid more attention to those factors that increase the likelihood of being affected by a stroke.

There is no need to pretend nothing. At the bar and accused of many crimes are always the same defendants: high blood pressure, smoking, hypercholesterolemia & Co.

And yet they now officially appear in the “top ten” of modifiable conditions that are most related to the appearance of a stroke.

In the ranking of risk factors for stroke we find the same conditions that are already sadly known because they predispose to the onset of heart attack. Only relative importance changes.

Data coming from the first results of the Interstroke project, an international study on the major risk factors for stroke, have made it possible to draw up a ranking.

The “top ten” of risk

We are talking about modifiable factors, i.e. those on which we can act to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a stroke.

  1. In first place hypertension stands out: it is associated with as many as a third of stroke cases and, alone, is able to increase the risk by two and a half times.
  2. Smoking follows closely behind: cigarettes double the risk of stroke.
  3. Obesity: especially the “android” one, or classic of boys, which accumulates in the abdominal area.
  4. An incorrect diet: it is not surprising that even eating in an uncontrolled way has earned a place in the ranking: it is known to all that the excessive introduction of fatty foods and salt favors the formation of fatty deposits inside the arteries, including those that carry blood to the brain.
  5. Insufficient physical activity: it is proven that a sedentary lifestyle causes an increase in triglycerides in plasma, a decrease in good cholesterol (HDL) and a decrease in insulin sensitivity. All factors that increase the risk of cardio and cerebrovascular diseases
  6. Blood fats: cholesterol (especially LDL) and triglycerides are high in 60-70 percent of those over 65, in which the risk increases due to age. It should therefore be borne in mind that the reference thresholds, according to the most recent guidelines, are based on the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors. LDL cholesterol should not exceed 70 mg / dl in those who are at very high risk, for example because they are hypertensive, diabetic or have had a heart attack, to 100 for those at high cardiovascular risk, limit to 115 for those at moderate risk.
  7. Diabetes: both juvenile and elderly diabetes induces, years later, damage to all arteries, including cervical and intracranial arteries.
  8. Alcohol consumption: While mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the overall risk of stroke, overdoing it has the opposite effect through an increase in blood pressure.
  9. Stress and depression must be kept under control: emotional and psychological state has been proven to influence cardiovascular health.
  10. Finally, heart disease is to be considered as an important risk factor for the onset of certain types of stroke. Atrial fibrillation, for example, very common in older people, is the first cause of cerebral embolism. But also beware of other rhythm disorders, previous myocardial infarction and valvular heart disease, heart failure and congenital heart defects.

Non-modifiable factors, but very important

Although there are predisposing conditions over which we have no power, knowing them is still very important.

Those who belong to one or more of these risk categories will have to pay much more attention to controlling modifiable factors.

  • Age. The incidence of stroke increases with age and after 65 years the increase is almost exponential;
  • Familiarity. Having a direct relative who has had a stroke carries a higher risk than someone who is not familiar with this condition;
  • Sex. Males are slightly more affected, especially in younger age groups, as women are protected by sex hormones, at least until menopause. After the age of 65, however, the incidence is aligned, while after 80 it is even greater in the female sex;
  • Personal history for cardio and cerebrovascular events. Stroke itself is the most important risk factor, because in survivors the probability of recurrence is very high, especially during the first year.

Beware of young people

A disease considered to be of adulthood and, above all, of the elderly population, it does not spare young people and even children.

This is because there are risk factors independent of age: in general, vascular causes other than atherosclerosis or heart disease are rare.

Predisposing conditions typical of young age are the abuse of substances (cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy) and alcohol.

Cigarette smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, incorrect diet, high blood pressure, alterations in blood fats and diabetes are all conditions that can occur (and damage the arteries) from an early age.

Women over 30 who smoke and take estroprogestogens have a higher than average risk of stroke.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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