The Silent Threat: Ten Common Causes of Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. Because brain cells begin to die within minutes of a stroke, they are medical emergencies.

Many factors can raise your risk of stroke, including some that you cannot do anything about, like age, gender, race, and genetics. Some, though, you can control, and others serve as warning signs.

1. Abnormal Heart Rhythm

Abnormal heart rhythms, like atrial fibrillation, affect how the blood moves through the heart and can raise your risk of stroke. According to the CDC, atrial fibrillation is responsible for one of every seven strokes.

Interestingly, studies show that strokes themselves can cause abnormal heart rhythms, which can put people who have had a stroke at risk of having another.