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Home > A-Z Health Topics > Heart Health and Stroke > Stroke: Know your risk > Stroke risk factors you can't control

Stroke risk factors you can't control

• Previous stroke
• Age
• Sex
• Menopause
• Race
• Stroke family history
• More information on stroke risk factors you can't control

You can't control these risk factors. But knowing what they are can help you understand your overall risk for stroke.

Previous stroke

Having already had a stroke is the biggest risk factor for having another stroke.

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Age

For every decade after the age of 55, your stroke risk doubles.

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Sex

If you consider all ages, men are more likely to have strokes than women. But between the ages of 45 and 64, women are more likely to have strokes than men. This is probably because blood pressure and cholesterol (koh-LESS-tur-ol) levels rise more quickly in women than men during this period.

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Menopause

Your risk of stroke increases after menopause.

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Race

African Americans are more likely to have a stroke than other people. This is partly because African Americans are more likely to have risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes. The reasons for this are not entirely clear, but may be related to family history or eating habits.

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Stroke family history

If stroke runs in your family, it may be because your family carries genes that increase your risk. An example would be a gene that makes your blood more likely to clot. Or it could be due to your family's lifestyle, such as a history of eating foods high in saturated fats.

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More information on stroke risk factors you can't control

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Stroke Fact Sheet — This fact sheet answers questions about stroke, including information about warning signs, effects, and risk factors.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/stroke.cfm

Explore other publications and websites

• African Americans and Stroke (Copyright © National Stroke Association) — African-Americans have a higher risk of stroke than whites. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. However, researchers have identified some of the things that place African-Americans at greater risk. This publication discusses these risk factors and the importance of making changes to reduce or eliminate these factors.
  http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AAMER
• Stroke Risk Factors (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This fact sheet describes the risk factors for stroke. It describes which risk factors can be changed and which ones cannot.
  http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/UnderstandingRisk/Understanding-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp

Connect with other organizations

• American Stroke Association
  http://www.strokeassociation.org
• National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC
  http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
• National Stroke Association
  http://www.stroke.org/site/PageNavigator/HOME

Content last updated February 1, 2009.

Resources last updated February 1, 2009.

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