What Causes Stroke?

Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in the United Kingdom, affecting thousands of people each year. Understanding what causes strokes can help in prevention and management, potentially saving lives. This blog post explores the primary causes of strokes and the risk factors associated with them.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. This can cause brain cells to die within minutes, leading to serious complications or death. Strokes are broadly categorized into two types: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic strokes are the most common, accounting for about 85% of all strokes. They occur when a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain. There are two main types of ischemic strokes:

1. Thrombotic Stroke: This happens when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain.
2. Embolic Stroke: This occurs when a blood clot or other debris forms away from the brain — commonly in the heart — and is swept through the bloodstream to lodge in narrower brain arteries.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding (hemorrhage) in or around the brain. This can be caused by conditions such as high blood pressure, aneurysms, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Risk Factors for Stroke

Several factors can increase the risk of having a stroke, including:

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading cause of strokes. It can damage and weaken your brain’s blood vessels, making them more susceptible to blockage or rupture.

Heart Disease

Conditions such as atrial fibrillation, heart valve defects, and irregular heartbeats can cause blood clots to form in the heart, which may travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Diabetes

Diabetes increases the risk of stroke by contributing to the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries and affecting the way blood clots.

High Cholesterol

High levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) can lead to the buildup of plaques in arteries, increasing the risk of blockage and ischemic stroke.

Smoking

Smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure, contributing to the risk of stroke. It also reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, making the heart work harder.

Obesity

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, all of which are stroke risk factors.

Physical Inactivity

Lack of exercise can contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, increasing the risk of stroke.

Unhealthy Diet

Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can raise cholesterol levels. High salt intake can increase blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for stroke.

Age and Family History

The risk of stroke increases with age, and having a family history of stroke can also elevate the risk.

Preventing Stroke

While some risk factors, like age and family history, cannot be changed, many others can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical treatment. Here are some steps to reduce the risk of stroke:

1. Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure: Regularly monitor your blood pressure and manage it through diet, exercise, and medication if necessary.
2. Control Diabetes: Keep blood sugar levels under control through diet, exercise, and medication.
3. Quit Smoking: Seek help to stop smoking and reduce your stroke risk.
4. Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and salt.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Achieve and maintain a healthy weight to lower the risk of stroke.

For more detailed information on the causes and prevention of strokes, you can visit What Causes.

Understanding the causes of stroke and managing the associated risk factors can significantly reduce the likelihood of experiencing this serious medical condition. By making informed lifestyle choices and seeking appropriate medical care, individuals can improve their overall health and decrease their risk of stroke.