Stroke Risk Assessment

What are the risk factors for a stroke?

With any of the following stroke risk factors, talk with your primary care provider about ways to reduce your risk. Stroke can cause sudden, life‑changing disability or death by damaging the brain in minutes, but many strokes are preventable. Taking steps to reduce your risk factors now can protect your ability to think, speak, move and live independently in the future.

You have a higher risk for stroke if you have:

• A prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), or a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation. ​
• High blood pressure that is 140/90 or higher, not well controlled, or a recent reading of 120/80 or above, especially if you do not know your latest blood pressure result. ​
• Current tobacco use (smoking, vaping, or chewing). ​
• Diabetes, prediabetes, or high cholesterol, especially if you are not taking prescribed medicines as directed. ​
• Little or no regular physical activity (less than 150 minutes of moderate activity like brisk walking per week). ​
• Heavy or binge alcohol use. ​
• Untreated or inconsistently treated sleep apnea. ​
• A parent or sibling had a stroke or TIA before age 65. ​
• You have obesity (body mass index of 30 or higher). ​
• You have not had a wellness or annual health checkup with a primary care provider in the last year, even if your answers do not show specific risk factors in this tool. ​

If you have any of these risk factors, Cone Health recommends scheduling a visit with your primary care provider to review your stroke risk, talk about lifestyle changes or treatments that may help lower that risk, and decide if additional testing or specialty care is needed.