7 Unforeseen factors increasing your risk of stroke

It can happen in an instant to anyone at any age and at any time. Stroke - the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of adult disability.  You may believe you know everything there is about this condition but likely there are many things you don’t. 

Similar to a heart attack, a stroke is actually a “brain attack.” A heart attack happens when blood suddenly is unable to reach a part of your heart but a stroke happens when blood vessels carrying blood to the brain either burst or are blocked, starving the brain of oxygen.  This can result in either brain damage or death. 

Most of us likely assume as long as you keep blood pressure in control, don’t smoke and exercise regularly, you’re doing a good job of preventing a stroke from happening. But, there are some lesser-known factors linked to a higher risk of stroke you probably are not aware of. Here is a look at 7 factors that might increase your risk of having a stroke:

1.     Irregular heartbeat – Irregular heartbeats are also known as atrial fibrillation or simply ‘AFib.” Arrhythmia or AFib is a problem with the heart’s rhythm or an irregular heartbeat.  AFib is typically characterized by chaotic, disorganized electrical activity in the upper chambers of the heart.  When AFib occurs, the atria (upper chambers of the heart) fibrillate (beat very fast) resulting in an irregular heart rhythm.  Many people with AFib can immediately recognize a sensation of palpitations with other symptoms that may include chest pain, difficult or labored breathing, fatigue, and lightheadedness. 

AFib is not always life-threatening however there is an increased risk of stroke and heart failure for some patients who have the condition.  When the atria is fibrillating and not pumping blood effectively, blood may pool in parts of the atria.  Blood clots could form that could break loose and travel to the brain or heart, causing a stroke or heart attack. People with AFib are up to five times more likely to have a stroke than people who do not have AFib. 

2.      Poor oral hygience – Brushing and flossing your teeth not only keeps cavities away but may also keep your cardiovascular system healthy.  A 2018 study found that the poor oral hygiene increases your risk of having a stroke.  It’s believed to be due to bacteria that infect your gums seeping into your bloodstream, causing blood vessel inflammation. 

3.     Binge drinking – Binge drinking never has good consequences. It may also increase your risk for having a stroke. While it may be true that moderate amounts of red wine and beer may help protect against heart disease, too much alcohol has the opposite effect. The journal Circulation found that six or more cocktails in one evening increase your risk by 30 percent within 24 hours. Middle-aged men who have just one hangover a year almost triple their chance of stroke, according to another study. The American Heart Association recommends no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.  

4.      Sitting too much – Prolonged periods of time sitting at a desk, watching TV or driving is linked to a greater risk for a stroke. Studies have found that people who sit for 10 hours or more each day have an 18 percent increased risk of stroke than people who sit less than five hours a day.

5.     Influenza – Anyone who has had the flu or an upper respiratory infection should lookout for symptoms of stroke. A 2019 study from Columbia University found that having a flu-like illness increases your risk of having a stroke by nearly 40 percent over the next 15 days. This increase also remained high for up to a year. The reason why is because illnesses increase inflammation in your bloodstream which makes clotting leading to a stroke more likely.  Best way to prevent this is to get an annual flu shot and wash hands frequently.

6.     Too much or too little sleep – Sufficient sleep can help ward off a stroke according to one study.  Conducted at the University of Alabama, the study found that those who sleep less than six hours a night quadrupled their risk of stroke symptoms among middle-aged people of normal weight. Lack of sleep may increase inflammation, stress hormones, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. However, too much sleep may also increase risk of stroke. The right amount of sleep for most adults is about seven to eight hours each night.  

7.     Illegal drugs – Illegal stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines have been linked to strokes, even in young, healthy people. A study in the Journal of Forensic Science looked at 279 cases of fatal stroke in adults under age 45 over a recent seven-year period and found that nearly 20 percent of the victims were methamphetamine or cocaine users.

Methamphetamines have a powerful ability to produce sudden and extremely high blood pressure which is the number one risk factor for stroke. Cocaine also increases risk of strokes by dramatically and quickly increasing blood pressure and by causing bleeding in the brain. Cocaine can also cause a sudden or gradual narrowing or spasm of blood vessels in the brain.