Dr Pharidah Rajan Ibrahim Omar Sundi: 20 Causes And Risk Factors Of Stroke
Dr Pharidah Rajan Ibrahim Omar Sundi, Medical Doctor at Youth Opportunities, posted on LinkedIn:
”20 Causes and Risk Factors of Stroke
1. Age – The risk of stroke increases as you grow older, especially after 55 years.
2. Sex – Men are more likely to have a stroke, but women usually have more severe strokes and higher death rates.
3. Family History – If close relatives have had strokes, your risk is higher due to shared genes and lifestyle patterns.
4. Previous Stroke or TIA – Having had a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA) before makes another stroke more likely.
5. Race/Ethnicity – People of African descent are at higher risk because of increased rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and sickle cell disease.
6. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) – The number one cause of stroke. Constant pressure damages artery walls, making them weak or blocked.
7. Diabetes Mellitus – High blood sugar damages blood vessels and speeds up the build-up of fatty plaques, increasing stroke risk.
8. High Cholesterol – Too much LDL (“bad cholesterol”) leads to plaque deposits that block or narrow brain arteries.
9. Heart Disease – Conditions like atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), heart failure, or valve disease can form clots that travel to the brain.
10. Smoking – Chemicals in tobacco damage blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and make blood thicker, doubling stroke risk.
11. Obesity – Extra weight increases the chance of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol problems, all of which raise stroke risk.
12. Physical Inactivity – A sedentary lifestyle weakens circulation, promotes obesity, and increases heart disease and stroke chances.
13. Excessive Alcohol Use – Heavy drinking raises blood pressure, causes irregular heart rhythms, and can trigger bleeding in the brain.
14. Unhealthy Diet – Too much salt raises blood pressure, while fatty foods cause cholesterol build-up. Lack of fruits and vegetables lowers natural protection.
15. Stress and Depression – Long-term stress raises blood pressure and pushes people toward unhealthy habits like smoking and overeating.
16. Illegal Drug Use – Cocaine and amphetamines cause blood vessels to spasm, raise blood pressure sharply, and can directly cause brain bleeding.
17. Certain Medications – Birth control pills or hormone therapy, especially in women who smoke or have high blood pressure, can increase clotting risk.
18. Atherosclerosis – The hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup blocks blood flow to the brain.
19. Blood Clots (Thrombosis/Embolism) – Clots can form in brain arteries or travel from the heart and block circulation to the brain.
20. Hemorrhage – A blood vessel in the brain can burst due to high blood pressure, aneurysms, or trauma, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke.”

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