Stroke is one of the dreaded health issues that can lead to an unpleasant life style when it happens to people. There are two types of stroke. Ischemic stroke and Hemorrhagic stroke.  Ischemic stroke is sudden loss of blood supply to the area of the brain which helps the muscles to respond and act. This further leads to loss of neurological function.

Hemorrhagic stroke happens when there is a rupture in a weakened blood vessel in the brain. At this point, blood from an artery begins bleeding into the brain. The aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are the blood vessels that cause this.

There are certain health issues that actually lead to Stroke.

Diabetes:

Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes.

Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced. There are three main types of diabetes mellitus:

Type 1 DM results from the pancreas's failure to produce enough insulin. This form was previously referred to as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes". The cause is unknown.

Type 2 DM begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly. As the disease progresses a lack of insulin may also develop. This form was previously referred to as "non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes". The most common cause is excessive body weight and insufficient exercise.

Gestational diabetes is the third main form, and occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels.

Tobacco Consumption:

Consumption of Tobacco is deadly and dangerous to health. This can suddenly lead to stroke and cut life short as it weakens the organs of the body and makes tobacco consumers vulnerable to terrible health conditions that can further lead to stroke.

Obesity:

Obesity is one of the common medical conditions that lead to stroke.

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health. People are generally considered obese when their body mass index (BMI), a measurement obtained by dividing a person's weight by the square of the person's height, is over 30 kg/m2, with the range 25–30 kg/m2 defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases and conditions, particularly cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis and depression.

It is mainly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility.

High Blood Pressure:

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. It occurs when there is high pressure (tension) in the arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Hypertension can be treated by regularly monitoring the blood pressure and using drugs recommended by specialised physicians. This should be treated to avoid Stroke.

Drug and Medication Use:

The use of certain drugs and medications for treatment of some diseases in the body causes alterations in the blood pressure. Some drugs increase blood pressure while some reduce it. This effect should be put into consideration before using some drugs as regular consumption of certain drugs can suddenly lead to stroke.

Old Age:

Old age sometimes causes stroke because of the weakness of the internal organs and reducd immunity.

According to a research by Juan Marti, Enrique Anton, Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common, potent, and independent risk factor for ischemic stroke,1 the incidence of which increases with age.2 To determine the influence of advanced age on anticoagulation therapy in elderly patients with AF, a retrospective cohort study of all patients admitted in our department (from 1995 to 2003) was conducted.

These patients were >90 years of age and had had an acute stroke. The following parameters were analyzed: age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors and their treatment, and outcome. Among the 404 patients experiencing acute stroke, 39 (9.65%) were >90 years old (average age 91.73±2.34), and 82% were females. Four patients had cognitive impairment (Alzheimer disease) whose quality of life was average for their age.

 Major risk factors for stroke were AF (64%), hypertension (51%), and diabetes mellitus (7%). Smoking habits, before stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), had not been found. None of the patients with AF had been treated with anticoagulant drugs except 4 who received acetylsalicylic acid. However, all patients with hypertension or diabetes were receiving drugs. All episodes of stroke were ischemic (hemispheric 28; TIA 8; and lacunar 3).

Thirteen patients died (12 in the first 72 hours), all of them with AF. The death rate among the elderly patients was 33.3% and 10.35% in the remaining patients diagnosed with acute stroke over the same time period. Seven patients fully recovered previous health state and functions, whereas 19 did not. After discharge, 14 patients with no AF received antiplaquetary drugs. In the remaining with AF, 4 received warfarin, 2 received antiplaquetary drugs (because of the refusal of the family to receive anticoagulants), and no treatment was received by 6 patients, all of whom had an important cognitive impairment and disability after stroke. Incidence of stroke increases with the age, and 75% of strokes occur in the elderly

Genetic Transfer:

Stroke is genetically transferred to offspring. Children of parents who have had stroke are more likely to suffer stroke in their lifetime. It is very important to do regular medical check-ups to ascertain their health condition and live a healthy life.