Stroke: Know Your Risk << Heart Health and Stroke << womenshealth.gov

Stroke: Know Your Risk

Like heart disease, stroke is a significant problem in the United States. But many things can affect whether or not you develop stroke, some of which you can control. That’s why it is important to understand your personal risk factors.

Risk factors are conditions, habits, family history, and other facts about yourself that make you more likely to develop certain diseases. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk of getting certain diseases. Some risk factors such as age or family history can’t be controlled. But many can be controlled by making changes in the way you live. In this section you can learn more about the different kinds of risk factors that you can and can’t control.

Additional Resources

Publications

Fact Sheet — Stroke — This fact sheet answers questions about stroke, including information about warning signs, effects, and risk factors.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/stroke.cfm

Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke — This brochure provides information on stroke prevention. It includes stroke warning signs, an explanation of risk factors, and a description of treatable risk factors.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm

NINDS Stroke Information Page — This online publication discusses the types of stroke, treatment options, and ongoing stroke research.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm

Stroke — This site features frequently asked questions, statistics, and risk factors of stroke. It also lists several prevention programs for those who want to lower their risk.

http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/

Cardiovascular Disease: Stroke (Copyright © HeartHealthyWomen.org) — This publication explains the two different types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. It also talks about the signs and symptoms of transient ischemic stroke (TIA), or "mini strokes."

http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/index.php?view=article&id=581

Don't Wait for It to Happen to You: Reducing Your Risk of Stroke (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This booklet provides information on working with your doctor to reduce your chance of stroke before it is too late. It addresses risk assessment, lifestyle changes you can make, and what to do when you have symptoms of stroke.

http://www.acponline.org/patients_families/pdfs/health/stroke.pdf

Preventing Stroke — The Basics (Copyright © HeartHealthyWoman.org) — Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, but there is good news: in many cases, stroke is preventable! This fact sheet discusses how to identify your risk factors and know the signs in order to prevent stroke.

http://www.hearthealthywomen.org/index.php?view=article&id=479&Itemid=1&option=com_content...

Stroke Effects (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This publication provides information on how a stroke can affect your emotions, awareness, perception, hearing, speech, and the ability to think clearly.

http://216.185.112.5/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4761

Stroke Risk Questionnaire (Copyright © Siteman Cancer Center) — The effects of stroke can include permanent disability and even death. This interactive questionnaire can help you estimate your risk of having a stroke.

http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=stroke...

What Are the Risk Factors of Stroke? (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This fact sheet describes the risk factors for stroke. It helps to distinguish which risk factors can be changed and which ones cannot.

http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4716

Women, Heart Disease, and Stroke (Copyright © American Heart Association) — Heart disease is not just a man’s disease. Women are at risk too. This publication discusses risk factors for heart disease and explains the difference between risks you can and can’t control. The factors you can control — like lifestyle changes — can help lower your heart disease risk.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4786

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated: February 1, 2009