Stroke Causes And Risk Factors: Old Age, Hypertension, Diabetes | National Neuroscience Institute
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Stroke

Stroke - Causes and Risk Factors

Blood is supplied to the brain by blood vessels called arteries. These arteries may get blocked, causing an “ischaemic stroke” or “infarct”. Less commonly, these arteries may burst, causing a “haemorrhagic stroke” or “brain haemorrhage”.

There are a number of factors that increase the risk of stroke:

  • Old age
  • Male gender
  • High blood pressure (Hypertension)
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • High cholesterol
  • Irregular heartbeat (Atrial fibrillation)
  • Certain heart diseases including a recent heart attack
  • Previous stroke or TIA

Stroke - Preparing for surgery

Stroke - Post-surgery care

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