Are you at risk of stroke?

Your age

As we get older, our arteries naturally become narrower and harder. They are also more likely to become clogged with fatty material, known as atherosclerosis. You can read more about how atherosclerosis can lead to an ischaemic stroke. It’s never too late to reduce your risk of a stroke, and we have some great ideas for things you can try.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of stroke. Find out more about each condition, diagnosis and treatment here:

• High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke.
• Diabetes can make your arteries more likely to get clogged up.
• Atrial fibrillation can lead to a clot forming in your heart, causing a stroke.
• High cholesterol can make your arteries more likely to get clogged up.

Lifestyle factors

The way we live has a big impact on our risk of stroke. Things such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and eating unhealthy foods can damage your blood vessels, increase your blood pressure and make your blood more likely to clot. 

It’s never too late to make a change. We have some ideas for things you can try in order to reduce your risk of stroke.

Family history

If a close relative (parent, grandparent, brother or sister) has had a stroke, your risk is likely to be higher. Speak to your GP if you have close relatives with stroke or heart attack, as some kinds of high cholesterol can run in families.

Your ethnicity

Strokes happen more often in people who are black or from South Asian families. If you’re black or South Asian, you may need to get checked at an earlier age for diabetes, especially if you have any risk factors like being overweight. Contact your GP surgery to ask for a health check.