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 Recovery After a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
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
Discover Why 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 Occur With Strokes
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Hospital emergency
Dangerous Complications of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Male patient sleeping with his wife sitting by his side
Severe Types of Strokes With the Worst Outcomes
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Man getting a cardiac stress test
How Heart Disease Can Lead to Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Human headache migraine
What Exactly Is a Brain Aneurysm?
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Close up of man with headache touching forehead
Conditions That Can Cause Stroke-Like Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
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
Excessive Use of Drugs and Alcohol May Cause Strokes
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Mixed race patient sleeping in hospital bed
How Strokes in Watershed Areas of the Brain Are Treated
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Senior woman holding painful hand
Discover the Main Differences Between Fibromyalgia and a 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 .
What to Expect If You Have a Brain Aneurysm
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
rollercoaster
Watch for Symptoms of a Stroke During or After Roller Coaster Rides
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
A wife caressing the face of her husband
Learn About Cavernous Malformations and How Do They Relate to Strokes
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Close-up of tired thoughtful businesswoman with arms crossed at office
Learn How and Why PTSD Increases Your Risk of Having a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD
Friendly doctor comforting a black female patient lying down on hospital bed
Causes of a Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Brush full of hair
The Link Between Hair Loss and Stroke Risk Might Surprise You
Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD
Doctor checking senior man's blood pressure
Arterial Dissection and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Illustration of a clump of blood cells in an artery
Can Your Lupus Cause a Stroke?
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Brain Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Methamphetamine
Why Meth Can Cause Some People to Have Sudden Strokes
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
A woman having her hair washed by her hairdresser
An Overview of 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 Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
PET scans of brain showing astrocytoma (brain tumour)
Can Brain Tumors Cause 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
These Are the Top 10 Signs That You Are at Risk of Stroke
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
man and woman in bed
Learn If It's Possible to Have Stroke Symptoms During or After Sex
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
Doctor examines a patient
The Relationship Between Head Trauma and Stroke
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Woman caressing ill man in hospital ward
When the Cause of Stroke Can't Be Found
Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD
A man describing his headache to his doctor
How Are "Reversible" Strokes Associated With High Blood Pressure?
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Doctor viewing a series of MRI on a screen
Understand How Lacunar Strokes Can Cause Damage to the Brain
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
a doctor taking a patient's blood pressure
An Overview of Hemorrhagic Strokes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Medically reviewed by Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD
Senior man having a stroke/heart attack
A High Triglycerides Number on Your Lipid Panel Can Lead to Stroke Risk
Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI
Man suffering a stroke at the gym
Can High Cholesterol Levels Increase Your Stroke Risk?
Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD
patient in the emergency room with signs of internal bleeding
What Are the Symptoms of Internal Bleeding?
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO