Stroke prevention

Who's most at risk?

If you've had a stroke or a

mini-stroke
When the supply of blood to a part of your brain is blocked off for a short time, but not long enough to cause permanent damage, it's called a mini-stroke. Doctors call this a transient ischemic attack (or TIA for short). A mini-stroke can make you lose control of one side of your body, or you may lose the sight in one eye. But these problems go away within 24 hours.

mini-stroke, you're at risk of having another one. Your doctor will probably want to know your stroke risk because this helps determine what treatment you need.

If you've had a mini-stroke, your risk of having a full-blown stroke is highest in the first few days and weeks afterward.

Source:
Rothwell PM, Warlow CP.
Timing of TIAs preceding stroke: Time window for prevention is very short.
Neurology. 2005; 64: 817-820.

¹ It's very important to get treatment as soon as you can after a mini-stroke. Urgent treatment can stop you going on to have a stroke.

Source:
Rothwell PM, Giles MF, Chandratheva A, et al.
Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison.
Lancet. 2007; 370: 1432-1442.

You're also more likely to have a stroke if you:

Have

atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation happens when your heart beats in an uneven or irregular way. Normally the beating of your heart is controlled by electrical signals. The signals make the upper parts of your heart (the atria) squeeze blood into the lower parts which then squeeze blood out into your blood vessels. If you have atrial fibrillation, the electrical signal doesn't work well, so the upper parts of the heart don't beat at the right time.

atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat)
Have

heart failure
When the heart loses its ability to push enough blood through the circulation, it is called heart failure.

heart failure (your heart doesn't pump as well as it should)
Have

high blood pressure
Your blood pressure is considered to be high when it is above the accepted normal range. The usual limit for normal blood pressure is 140/90. If either the first (systolic) number is above 140 or the lower (diastolic) number is above 90, a person is considered to have high blood pressure. Doctors sometimes call high blood pressure "hypertension."

high blood pressure
Are over 75
Have

diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).

diabetes
Have had a stroke or a mini-stroke before.

The more of these that apply, the more likely you are to have a stroke. For example, if you're 80, have already had two strokes and have high blood pressure, your doctor may say you are at high risk of having another stroke.

Sources for the information on this page:

Rothwell PM, Warlow CP.Timing of TIAs preceding stroke: Time window for prevention is very short.Neurology. 2005; 64: 817-820.

Rothwell PM, Giles MF, Chandratheva A, et al.Effect of urgent treatment of transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke on early recurrent stroke (EXPRESS study): a prospective population-based sequential comparison.Lancet. 2007; 370: 1432-1442.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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