Natural Health Care

Who is at risk of suffering a stroke?

Some people are subjected to an increased risk of stroke than others. Among the risk factors are impossible to change the age, gender, race / ethnicity, and a history of stroke in the family. However, other risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure or cigarette use may be changed or controlled by the person subjected to that risk.

Non-modifiable risk factors

It’s a myth that stroke occurs only in adults. In fact, stroke occurs in all age groups, from fetuses still in the womb to the people of 100 years. It is true, however, that older people have a higher risk of suffering a stroke than the general population and the risk of stroke increases with age. For each decade after age 55, the risk of stroke doubles, and two-thirds of all strokes occur in people over 65 years.

People over 65 also have a seven times greater risk of dying from a stroke than the general population. And the incidence of stroke is increasing proportionately with the increase in elderly population. When children born in the baby boom years to become over 65 years of age, stroke and other diseases typical of aging, take on even greater significance in the field of health.

The gender or sex of the person also contribute to the risk factor of stroke. Men have an increased risk of stroke, but more women die from strokes. The risk of stroke among men is 1.25 times that of women. But men do not live as long as women, so men are usually younger when they suffer a stroke and, therefore, have a higher survival rate than women. In other words, even when women have fewer strokes than men, women are generally older when they have these strokes and are more likely to die from them.

Stroke seems to be widespread in some families. Several factors may contribute to familial stroke risk. Members of a family may have a genetic tendency to risk factors for stroke, such as an inherited predisposition to hypertension or diabetes. The influence of a common lifestyle among family members may also contribute to familial stroke.

The risk of stroke varies between different ethnic and racial groups. The incidence of stroke among African Americans is almost double that of white Americans. Similarly, the double of African Americans who suffer a stroke die from the event compared to white Americans. African Americans between the ages of 45 and 55 years have four to five times more likely to die from stroke than persons of the white race. After age 55, the death rate from stroke among whites increases and is equal to the rate for African Americans.

Compared with white Americans, African Americans have a higher incidence of risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure and cigarette smoking. African Americans also have a higher incidence and prevalence of certain genetic diseases such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia, that predispose them to stroke.

Hispanics and Native American Indians have higher rates of incidence and mortality from stroke more similar to those of white Americans. Asian Americans have incidence and mortality rates from stroke similar to those of white Americans, even though Asians in Japan, China and other Far Eastern countries have incidence rates and mortality from stroke significantly more higher than that of white Americans. This indicates that the environment and lifestyle are factors that play an important role in the risk of stroke.

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