High blood pressure (the #1 cause)
Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
💡 You won’t “feel” these — which is why regular check-ups are essential.
✅ Who Is at Higher Risk?
✅ Age over 55
Risk doubles every decade after 55
✅ High blood pressure
Damages arteries over time
✅ Heart disease or AFib
Clots can travel to the brain
✅ Smoking
Narrows blood vessels and raises BP
✅ Family history
Genetic predisposition plays a role
✅ Sedentary lifestyle
Contributes to obesity, diabetes, poor circulation
🩺 The good news? Up to 80% of strokes are preventable with lifestyle changes and medical care.
✅ How to Reduce Your Risk
Control blood pressure
Most impactful step you can take
Manage diabetes
Keeps blood vessels healthy
Quit smoking
Within 2 years, stroke risk drops to near-normal
Eat a heart-healthy diet
Focus on vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins
Exercise regularly
Just 30 mins/day, 5 days/week helps
Limit alcohol
More than 1–2 drinks daily raises risk
Treat atrial fibrillation
Anticoagulants can prevent clots
💡 Tip: Ask your doctor about your stroke risk score — many clinics offer free screenings.
❌ Debunking the Myths
❌ “If symptoms go away, it wasn’t a stroke”
Dangerous myth — could be a TIA, which requires urgent care
❌ “Only older people get strokes”
False — rising in younger adults due to poor diet, obesity, vaping
❌ “Strokes happen slowly”
No — symptoms appear suddenly, not gradually
❌ “I’d know if I had high blood pressure”
Silent killer — often no symptoms until damage occurs
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a crystal ball to protect yourself from stroke.
You just need to know the signs, manage your risks, and act fast when something feels wrong.
So if you or someone experiences sudden weakness, slurred speech, or facial droop…
don’t wait.
Don’t drive.
Don’t “see if it gets better.”
Call 911.
Because real courage isn’t about ignoring danger.
It’s about responding — fast, fearless, and focused.
And that kind of decision?
It can mean the difference between walking away… and never speaking again.
