Guide To Significant Stroke Causes And Risk Factors

Cardiovascular Disease

The presence of cardiovascular disease can cause an individual to be at a significantly higher risk of experiencing a stroke than someone healthy. Cardiovascular disease refers to a group of conditions characterized by the partial blockage or narrowing of blood vessels. The most common cause of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis. This is the inappropriate and excessive accumulation of plaque on the inside lining of the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis causes the walls of the arteries to become stiff and inflexible. A lower quantity of blood can flow through stiff and hard blood vessels, making the heart work harder and blood pressure increase.

A stroke can occur when one of the main arteries that supply brain tissues has an excessive plaque accumulation to the point where no blood can flow through it. This restriction of blood flow causes damage to the brain tissues and is referred to as an ischemic stroke. Another way atherosclerosis can cause a stroke is when a piece of the plaque breaks from its origination point, travels through the bloodstream, and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain. This obstruction of blood flow is also referred to as an ischemic stroke.

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Overusing Anticoagulants

A major risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is the overuse of anticoagulants. This type of stroke is the result of a blood vessel breaking or leaking in the brain. Anticoagulants are medications that thin the blood, which can result in bleeding in the brain and a hemorrhagic stroke. This is why patients who take anticoagulants must be closely monitored. In fact, they must be monitored quite closely if they are taking this medication to lower their risk of blood clots, which can trigger an ischemic stroke. Patients should always follow their doctor’s directions for taking this kind of medication.

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