These numbers are hard to ignore.
A large international study has found that there are ten risk factors that account for a staggering 90% of stroke risk.
In the U.
S.
, strokes are the third largest cause of death (behind heart disease and cancer), and bring a heartbreaking, life altering loss of independence to an estimated 30% of those who survive the stroke itself.
High blood pressure is the most important of the risk factors identified in the research, but there are nine others that also bear some of the blame when it comes to stroke.
The one bright spot is that of the list, the top five are related to lifestyle - high blood pressure, smoking, abdominal obesity, diet and being physically active - accounting for 80% of all stroke risk.
In fact, blood pressure plays a part in both types of stroke.
Ischemic caused by blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, and are the more common.
Hemorrhagic (or bleeding stroke) happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into the surrounding tissue.
Both types are very dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
The findings of this work come out of a standardized, case control bit of research that involved 3,000 subjects from 22 different countries who had strokes and an equal number of healthy controls with no stroke history.
A second phase of the study is underway now, with experts looking at the importance of the risk factors in different regions, ethnic groups and types of stroke.
They plan to enroll more than 20,000 participants and also look at the link between genetics and stroke risk.
The list of ten risk factors are: 1.
High blood pressure, across the board the most important factor - accounting for one third of all stroke risk.
2.
Smoking 3.
Being active on a regular basis 4.
Waist-to-hip ratio (also known as abdominal obesity) 5.
Diet - a high intake of fish and fruits was found helpful in reducing risk 6.
Blood lipid levels, more important in the risk of ischemic stroke 7.
Diabetes 8.
Alcohol intake 9.
Stress 10.
Depression And while many of these risk factors are ones we've heard about before, this is the first research to include both low and middle-income participants from developing countries in the mix.
Other vital information comes from the brain scan conducted on the stroke survivors who participated in the study.
The stroke risk factors are pretty similar no matter where you live.
This highlights the need for medicine and public health officials to do whatever can be done to encourage people to reduce high blood pressure, which experts believe would have a major impact on the incidence of stroke.
The best news is that many of the risk factors, blood pressure included, are under your control.
What you eat, if you smoke or drink too much alcohol, even your stress levels can be changed.
Starting today.
A large international study has found that there are ten risk factors that account for a staggering 90% of stroke risk.
In the U.
S.
, strokes are the third largest cause of death (behind heart disease and cancer), and bring a heartbreaking, life altering loss of independence to an estimated 30% of those who survive the stroke itself.
High blood pressure is the most important of the risk factors identified in the research, but there are nine others that also bear some of the blame when it comes to stroke.
The one bright spot is that of the list, the top five are related to lifestyle - high blood pressure, smoking, abdominal obesity, diet and being physically active - accounting for 80% of all stroke risk.
In fact, blood pressure plays a part in both types of stroke.
Ischemic caused by blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, and are the more common.
Hemorrhagic (or bleeding stroke) happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into the surrounding tissue.
Both types are very dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
The findings of this work come out of a standardized, case control bit of research that involved 3,000 subjects from 22 different countries who had strokes and an equal number of healthy controls with no stroke history.
A second phase of the study is underway now, with experts looking at the importance of the risk factors in different regions, ethnic groups and types of stroke.
They plan to enroll more than 20,000 participants and also look at the link between genetics and stroke risk.
The list of ten risk factors are: 1.
High blood pressure, across the board the most important factor - accounting for one third of all stroke risk.
2.
Smoking 3.
Being active on a regular basis 4.
Waist-to-hip ratio (also known as abdominal obesity) 5.
Diet - a high intake of fish and fruits was found helpful in reducing risk 6.
Blood lipid levels, more important in the risk of ischemic stroke 7.
Diabetes 8.
Alcohol intake 9.
Stress 10.
Depression And while many of these risk factors are ones we've heard about before, this is the first research to include both low and middle-income participants from developing countries in the mix.
Other vital information comes from the brain scan conducted on the stroke survivors who participated in the study.
The stroke risk factors are pretty similar no matter where you live.
This highlights the need for medicine and public health officials to do whatever can be done to encourage people to reduce high blood pressure, which experts believe would have a major impact on the incidence of stroke.
The best news is that many of the risk factors, blood pressure included, are under your control.
What you eat, if you smoke or drink too much alcohol, even your stress levels can be changed.
Starting today.
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