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1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. How can my doctor help?

I have atrial fibrillation (AFib) and want to learn more about stroke risk reduction

1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important for people with AFib?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. What is the best way to work with my doctor?

I have high blood pressure and want to learn more about stroke risk reduction

1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important for me?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. What is the best way to work with my doctor?

I have high cholesterol and want to learn more about stroke risk reduction

1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important for me?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. What is the best way to work with my doctor?

I have diabetes and want to learn more about stroke risk reduction

1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important for me?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. What is the best way to work with my doctor?

I have had a stroke or TIA ("mini-stroke") and want to reduce the risk of another stroke

1. Why is stroke risk reduction so important for me?
2. How likely am I to have a stroke?
3. What can I do to reduce my stroke risk?
4. What is the best way to work with my doctor?

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Talking to your doctor

Working with your doctor is an important part of managing your risk of stroke. Be prepared and learn how to talk to your doctor.

• Learn more

Learn more about strokes, stroke causes, whether you could be at risk of a stroke, and how to reduce your risk of stroke.

• What is a stroke?
• Am I at risk for a stroke?
• What causes a stroke?
• What are the symptoms of a stroke?
• How could a stroke affect my health and lifestyle?

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain. Without the oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood, brain cells begin to die. The longer blood flow is interrupted, the greater the risk of permanent brain damage and death.

There are two common types of stroke:

Depending on the part of the brain affected, strokes can affect your vision, mobility, thoughts, memory, and speech. See "How could a stroke affect my health and lifestyle?" to learn more.

Some people may have a "mini-stroke," also called a TIA (transient ischemic attack). With a TIA, the blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. A TIA causes the same symptoms as a stroke, but the symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours. However, a TIA is still very serious because it could still cause brain damage, and because it is a warning that you are at risk of a stroke.

Am I at risk for a stroke?

Every 10 minutes on average, a Canadian has a stroke. Could you be next?

There are many things that increase your risk of a stroke (called stroke risk factors).

Some are things you can't control:

• age over 65
• male gender (women are also at risk after menopause)
• family history of stroke
• First Nations, African, or South Asian ancestry
• personal history of a stroke or TIA ("mini-stroke")

Fortunately, there are also many things you may be able to control:

Lifestyle issues:

• being overweight
• drinking too much alcohol (more than 2 drinks per day or 10 drinks per week for women or more than 3 drinks per day or 15 drinks per week for men)
• unhealthy diet (low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium)
• lack of physical activity
• smoking
• stress

Medical conditions:

• atrial fibrillation
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol

Some people may have other risk factors not listed here.

Learn more about understanding your stroke risk and how to reduce your risk of stroke.

What causes a stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted, usually in one of two ways:

1. A blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain.

This is called an ischemic stroke.

The blood clot may get into the brain by:

• forming in a brain blood vessel (thrombotic stroke)
• forming elsewhere in the body (such as the heart), and moving through the bloodstream to the brain (embolic stroke)

or

2. Blood vessels burst in the brain.

This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Blood leaking into the brain and the interruption in blood flow both damage the brain.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke warning signs

Learn to recognize the warning signs of stroke. If you see them, respond immediately by calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. It can significantly improve survival and recovery.

	Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.
	Trouble speaking - Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.
	Vision problems -Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.
	Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache.
	Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.

© Reproduced with the permission of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2011.

Print the stroke warning signs and put them on your fridge or in your wallet.

This list includes common stroke warning signs but is not a complete list of all possible warning signs. Some people may have additional warning signs not listed above.

How could a stroke affect my health and lifestyle?

The effects of a stroke vary from person to person: some people die, others recover completely, but many have effects that could last a lifetime.

Here's what could happen to you after a stroke:

A stroke can affect many different parts of your life, depending on the areas of the brain that were damaged:

Some of these problems may improve over time. Stroke rehabilitation can help people regain some of the function they have lost and live life to the fullest.

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