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Neurology & Neurosurgery

Avoid Stroke: Reduce Stroke Risk Factors

Some Medical Conditions Increase the Risk of Stroke

Anyone can have a stroke, although certain stroke risk factors increase the chance.

  • High blood pressure (greater than 140/90 for people without diabetes or greater than 130/80 for people with diabetes)
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar
  • Heart disease and/or irregular heartbeat
  • Sickle cell disease
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity

Some stroke risk factors cannot be changed.

  • Age – stroke risk doubles for every decade after age 55
  • Family history of stroke in a parent, grandparent, sister or brother
  • Previous stroke or TIA
  • Sex – men have a higher risk at younger ages, while women have a higher risk over age 85
  • Race/ethnicity – African-Americans have a higher risk of stroke than other races

Know Your Risk of Stroke

To understand your personal risk for a stroke, visit the National Stroke Association’s Stroke Risk Scorecard. Any elevated risks for stroke should be discussed with your doctor.

Stroke Prevention: Reduce Stroke Risk

According to the National Stroke Association, up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. To prevent stroke, start by getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking. Additionally, it is important to stay on top of your stroke risk factors and manage them with your physician.

  • Have your blood pressure checked regularly
  • Report any episodes of missed or irregular heartbeats
  • Find out if you have high cholesterol
  • Treat circulation problems such as blocked arteries, sickle cell disease and severe anemia

If you suspect stroke, call 9-1-1 to activate rapid response services and transport to a Stroke Network hospital.

To find out more about the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Stroke Center, call .

Streamlining Stroke Efforts

The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center has streamlined efforts in accepting stroke patients referred by outside physicians.

  • The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center has streamlined efforts in accepting stroke patients referred by outside physicians.
  • Treating a stroke with tPA within a window of only a few hours is critical for long-term outcomes. Barnes-Jewish is one of only few stroke centers in the region and is capabale of treating stroke rapidly.
  • Dr. Carpenter is a Washington University neurologist at Barnes-Jewish specializing in stroke and cerebrovascular disease.
  • A hemorrhagic stroke, or what is also called a ruptured brain aneurysm, can strike without warning.  Neurosurgeon Greg Zipfel, MD talks about treatment in this episode of Real Science, Real Innovation.
  • A team of stroke clinicians and emergency department staff at Barnes-Jewish Hospital borrowed techniques from the auto industry to give ischemic stroke patients a chance at better outcomes by reducing door-to-needle time for patients receiving tPA to 30 minutes.
  • A telemedicine robot lets the Washington University stroke specialists at Barnes-Jewish hospital be remotely present in the Parkland Health Center emergency room.
  • Neurosurgeon, Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Neuroscience Center
  • Neurosurgeon, Barnes-Jewish & Washington University Neuroscience Center
  • Barnes-Jewish has the most advanced operating room imaging technology in the world at its disposal with the installation of a multi-room iMRI surgical imaging suite, enabling neurosurgeons to perform important MRI tests while surgery is in progress. Find out more in this video.
  • Mycle Brandy is walking across the United States to raise funds for stroke research and raise awareness of the role of exercise in stroke prevention and recovery. Recently, he took that message to Barnes-Jewish.