Causes Of Stroke

There are two main causes of stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn't cause lasting symptoms.You can treat some conditions that make you more likely to have a stroke. Other things that put you at risk can't be changed:

*Causes*

*High blood pressure*. Your doctor may call it hypertension. It's the biggest cause of strokes. If your blood pressure is typically 130/80 or higher, your doctor will discuss treatments with you.

*Tobacco*. Smoking or chewing it raises your odds of a stroke. Nicotine makes your blood pressure go up. Cigarette smoke causes a fatty buildup in your main neck artery. It also thickens your blood and makes it more likely to clot. Even secondhand smoke can affect you.

*Heart disease*. This condition includes defective heart valves as well as atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, which causes a quarter of all strokes among the very elderly. You can also have clogged arteries from fatty deposits.

*Diabetes*. People who have it often have high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight. Both raise the chance of a stroke. Diabetes damages your blood vessels, which makes a stroke more likely. If you have a stroke when your blood sugar levels are high, the injury to your brain is greater.

*Age*. Anyone could have a stroke, even babies in the womb. Generally, your chances go up as you get older. They double every decade after age 55.

*Family*. Strokes can run in families. You and your relatives may share a tendency to get high blood pressure or diabetes. Some strokes can be brought on by a genetic disorder that blocks blood flow to the brain.