Older man brain area suffering from stroke

Stroke Causes and Risk Factors

Many factors - such as high blood pressure, smoking, diet, and obesity - can raise your risk of stroke. Learn about the causes, what you can't modify, and healthy changes you can make.
Woman using scale to weigh herself
Being Underweight Can Interfere With Stroke Recovery
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Red chili peppers hanging on the wall are promoted as natural Viagra in the village market on October 22, 2015 in Amalfi, Italy.
Viagra, Herbal Viagra, and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD
An overweight man sitting at the edge of his bed
Being Overweight Doubles Your Chances of Having a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Male stroke patient with his wife
Heart Problems That Go Hand in Hand With Strokes
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Hospital emergency
Complications of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Male patient sleeping with his wife sitting by his side
Types of Strokes With Severe Outcomes
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Man getting a cardiac stress test
Heart Disease Can Lead to Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Brain Aneurysm: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Close up of man with headache touching forehead
Conditions That Can Cause Stroke-Like Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
The effects of a stroke in the brain.
Stroke Caused by Amyloid Angiopathy
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Man with a beer in hand
How Certain Drugs and Alcohol Can Cause Strokes
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Mixed race patient sleeping in hospital bed
Watershed Stroke Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Senior woman holding painful hand
The Differences Between Fibromyalgia and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Male doctor checking woman's blood pressure
Understanding and Treating Carotid Artery Stenosis
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
doctor talking to elderly woman
What You Should Know About Cerebrovascular Disease
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
MRI brain sagittal plane for detect a variety of conditions of the brain such as cysts, tumors, bleeding, swelling, developmental and structural abnormalities or infections .
Brain Aneurysms: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
rollercoaster
Can a Roller Coaster Cause a Stroke?
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
A wife caressing the face of her husband
Cavernous Malformations and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Close-up of tired thoughtful businesswoman with arms crossed at office
Why PTSD Increases Your Risk of Having a Stroke
By Heidi Moawad, MD
The Causes of Strokes
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Brush full of hair
Hair Loss Can Be a Sign of Increased Stroke Risk
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Doctor checking senior man's blood pressure
Arterial Dissection and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD
Illustration of a clump of blood cells in an artery
Can Lupus Be a Cause of Stroke?
Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD
Brain Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine Abuse Can Cause a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
A woman having her hair washed by her hairdresser
Beauty Parlor Stroke Syndrome
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Older couple holding hands
Your Marriage Affects Your Chances of a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD
Scorpion
Symptoms and Treatment of Dangerous Animal Bites
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
PET scans of brain showing astrocytoma (brain tumour)
Brain Tumors and the Risk of Stroke
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Preparing for the scan
Dural Sinus Thrombosis and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Stressed out woman
At Risk for a Stroke? These Are the Top 10 Signs
By Heidi Moawad, MD
man and woman in bed
Learn If Sexual Activity Can Cause a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD
Doctor examines a patient
Head Trauma and Stroke Risk
By Heidi Moawad, MD
Woman caressing ill man in hospital ward
Cryptogenic Stroke: Stroke of Unknown Cause
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
A man describing his headache to his doctor
High Blood Pressure and "Reversible" Strokes
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Doctor viewing a series of MRI on a screen
Learn About the Symptoms and Types of Lacunar Strokes
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
a doctor taking a patient's blood pressure
An Overview of Hemorrhagic Strokes
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Senior man having a stroke/heart attack
High Triglycerides and Your Stroke Risk
Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI
Man suffering a stroke at the gym
High Cholesterol and Stroke Risk
By Heather M. Ross
patient in the emergency room with signs of internal bleeding
Internal Bleeding: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO