<s>[INST] Are you at risk of stroke? [/INST] Your Age

The largest number of people who have strokes are aged over 55 and the risk increases as you get older. This is because our arteries naturally become narrower and harder as we get older.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of stroke. These include:

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Atrial fibrillation
High cholesterol
An important way to reduce your risk of stroke is to find out if you have any of these conditions and work with your doctor to manage them.

Lifestyle Factors

The way we live has a big impact on our risk of stroke. Things like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and eating unhealthy foods can damage your blood vessels, increase your blood pressure and make your blood more likely to clot. There are lots of simple changes you can make to your lifestyle that can reduce your risk of stroke.

Family History

If a close relative (parent, grandparent, brother or sister) has had a stroke, your risk is likely to be higher.

Your Ethnicity

If you are of South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Nepalase, Sri Lankan) origins, or from an African or Caribbean background, you are at a higher risk of stroke than other people in the UK. People in these groups can be more likely to have conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure which can raise your stroke risk. Source: MALAYSIA STROKE COUNCIL . Link: https://www.strokecouncil.org/stroke-faq/. Field: Neurology. Disease: Stroke </s>