Risk Factors You Can't Control

Unfortunately, there are a number of factors such as age, family history and race that you can't control. That's why it's so important to understand all of your risk factors, discuss them with your healthcare professional, and address the risk factors that you can control or treat.

Age
Gender
Heredity and Race
Previous Heart Attack or Stroke

Age

The older you get, the more likely you are to develop heart disease or have a stroke. How to reduce this risk is an area of active research.

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Gender

Women account for more than half of all stroke deaths. Women who are pregnant, take birth control pills and smoke, or have high blood pressure or other risk factors, have a higher stroke risk.

Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life. Women's risk rises as they age but never reaches men's risk levels.

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Heredity and Race

If your brother, father or grandfather had a heart attack before age 55, or your sister, mother or grandmother had one before age 65, you may be at risk, too.

If you've had a heart attack, you're at higher risk of having a second attack or a stroke. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether taking aspirin regularly is right for you. The risks and benefits of long-term aspirin therapy vary for each person.

Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke.

African Americans have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke than Caucasians do. This is partly because African Americans have higher risks of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Compared to white women, black women have higher death rates from cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Heart disease risks are high among Mexican Americans, American Indians and native Hawaiians. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

Just as you can't control your age, sex and race, you can't control your family history. Most people with a strong family history of heart disease and stroke have at least one other risk factor.

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Previous Heart Attack or Stroke

Stroke survivors have a much higher risk of stroke than people who haven't had one. To help prevent a second stroke, it's critical to reduce your other risk factors for stroke and heart disease. If you've had a heart attack, you have a higher risk of stroke, too. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether taking aspirin regularly is right for you. The risks and benefits of long-term aspirin therapy vary for each person.

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Risk Factors You Can Control Or Treat
Stroke-Specific Risk Factors
Other Factors That Can Affect Your Risk
Warning Signs