T here are several factors that increase the risk of stroke.
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will have a stroke. Some of these can not be controlled, such as increasing age, family health history, race and gender. But people can change, treat or modify most risk factors to lower their risk. Factors resulting from lifestyle or environment can be modified with a healthcare provider's help. Increasing age - The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after age 55.