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Risk factors

Most strokes can be prevented if you follow a healthy lifestyle. This includes an optimal eating plan to maintain a healthy weight, exercising regularly, reducing your stress levels, limiting your alcohol intake, refraining from smoking, and managing conditions such as high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (a type of abnormal heart rhythm), diabetes, and high cholesterol.

There are, however, also risk factors that you cannot prevent. These include the following:

Ageing
You are more at risk as you grow older.
Your sex
Women’s risk increases after menopause.
Family history
Your risk of a stroke could be higher if the men in your direct family — father or brother — suffered a stroke before the age of 55, or your mother or sister before the age of 65.
Genetics
Inherited high blood pressure and cholesterol, clotting disorders and other genetic conditions may put you at a higher risk of a stroke.

Are there different types of strokes?

There are two kinds of strokes - ischaemic (a clot) and haemorrhagic (a bleed):

Ischaemic stroke (clot)
This is the most common type of stroke, making up about 85% of all strokes. It happens when a major blood vessel in the brain is blocked, either by a blood clot, or by a build-up of fatty deposits and cholesterol known as plaque.
Haemorrhagic stroke (bleed)
This occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into nearby tissue. With a haemorrhagic stroke, pressure builds up in the nearby brain tissue, causing damage and irritation.

In an emergency, time matters

Download the new Netcare app, so Netcare 911 can immediately geolocate you in an emergency, wherever you are, for expert care and peace of mind.* You can also track your ambulance in-app for updates on when help will arrive, and easily access and view your Summary of Care from Netcare 911 a few days after the event.

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*Medical aid or private rates will apply