The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly increases stroke risk. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke and is strongly correlated with high blood pressure. While diabetes is treatable, having it increases a person's risk of stroke. People with diabetes often also have high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more. The carotid arteries in your neck supply blood to your brain.
Heart attack is also the major cause of death among stroke survivors.
They are strong predictors of stroke. A person who's had one or more TIAs is almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't. A moderate or marked increase in the red blood cell count is a risk factor for stroke. The reason is that more red blood cells thicken the blood and make clots more likely. Cocaine use has been closely related to strokes, heart attacks and a variety of other cardiovascular complications.