Hypertension affects approximately 50 million American adults or about one-third of the population. Atrial fibrillation, also known as AF, is a particular type of irregular heartbeat that affects more than two million Americans. Atrial fibrillation can increase your stroke risk 4 to 6 times. When this does not work treatment concentrates on preventing the formation of blood clots. This is done through medication.
Heart disease is an important risk factor for stroke.
Plaque that builds up in the arteries can break away and migrate to the brain. This plaque can get caught in the narrow blood vessels of the brain causing a blockage that results in stroke. High cholesterol is an indirect risk factor for stroke because it can put you at greater risk for heart disease. A cholesterol level of more than 200 is considered high. If you don't know what your cholesterol level is, find out.