It is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Most strokes occur in people over 65 who have high blood pressure and atherosclerosis . Strokes are more common in men than in women. They are three to four times more common in African-Americans. People who have already had a stroke are more likely to have another.
Cigarette smoking doubles the chances of having a stroke.
Other risk factors include diabetes, family history, obesity , high cholesterol, and lack of exercise. Symptoms you are likely to notice Symptoms vary depending on which part of the brain has been damaged. Different parts of the brain control different mental and physical functions such as vision, memory, movement, and speech. Often the individual experiences weakness, numbness , or paralysis of the face or an arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. There may also be difficulty in speaking or dimmed, blurred, or double vision, usually in one eye.