Are there ways to prevent stroke? Learn what puts you at higher risk of having a stroke, and about problems that can result if you have a stroke.
You can change or manage some things that put you at risk for a stroke, such as high blood pressure and smoking. Others, including age and race, you can't.
About half of all strokes are caused by atherosclerosis -- the same process of narrowing and hardening of the arteries that causes heart attacks.
To reduce your chances of stroke, adopt habits that promote cardiovascular health and deter hardening of the arteries.
In the U.S., cognitive decline related to stroke (called vascular dementia) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease.
What happens when someone has vascular dementia? Learn more about its causes, symptoms, and treatment.