Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Risk Factors for Stroke

Modifiable: 

•  Blood & Coagulation disorders

      • Diabetes Mellitus

      • Drug and Alcohol Abuse

      • Heart disease (e.g. Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Artery Disease, MI, valvular disease)

      • High blood cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)

      • *High blood pressure (hypertension)

      • Hormone therapy:

- Oral contraceptive use

- Post menopause hormone replacement therapy

      • Obesity:

- Healthy waist circumference: Men - Europid: < 102 cm (40”) MEN - Chinese or South Asian: < 90 cm (35”) Women  - Europid: <88 cm (35”) Women - Chinese or South Asian: 80 cm (32”) BMI: Body weight greater than ideal range (which is 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m²)

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OBS)

• Physical inactivity

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Smoking

• Stress

• Vascular Disease, Carotid Stenosis

*This is number one risk factor for stroke

Non- Modifiable:

• Age

• Ethnicity: Canadians of First Nations, African or South Asian descent

• Family History

• Gender

• Heredity

• Previous Stroke

• Previous TIA

Probable

• Congenital cardiac anomalies

•  Elevated homocysteine levels

• Inflammation & Infection

• Metabolic Syndrome

• Migraine headache

•  Sympathomimetic agents

Chronic Disease
Stroke Assessment Across the Continuum of Care
Point of Care Resources