<s>[INST] What places a stroke survivor at greater risk of having another stroke? [/INST] Many risk factors for a stroke are treatable and if caught in time, can prevent this potentially devastating experience from happening.

Common risk factors include:

Obesity and excess weight
Excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking
Physical inactivity
Substance abuse – use of illicit drugs such as methamphetamines and cocaine
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Cardiovascular disease, heart infection, abnormal heart rhythm, heart defects, heart valve defects, enlarged heart chambers and heart failure
Smoking (nicotine and tobacco) or exposure to second-hand smoke
An unhealthy diet (high in salt, cholesterol, saturated and trans fats)
Diabetes
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Family history of heart attack, TIA or stroke
Age – 55 and older
Ethnicity (Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives and African-American races are more prone to stroke than other races)
Gender (males are at higher risk than females, but women tend to experience stroke more often when older in age and more severely – possibly resulting in death)
Sickle cell disease (Sickle cell anaemia) Source: MYMED. Link: https://www.mymed.com/diseases-conditions/stroke/stroke-faqs. Field: Neurology. Disease: Stroke </s>