Being a man . Men suffer strokes 19 percent more often than women. Your race . Your family history . Strokes are not classically hereditary, but they tend to run in families.
Diabetes substantially increases risk of atherosclerosis, and therefore, stroke.
Carotid bruit . Your carotid artery is the one in your neck that carries blood up to your brain. Carotid bruit is a sign of atherosclerosis. Hypertension is the leading controllable risk factor for stroke. The higher your pressure, the greater your risk.