Stroke risk factors include:  

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Not being physically active.
• Unhealthy eating
• Being overweight
• Drinking alcohol  
• Smoking.

Medical problems can also cause strokes:  

• Weak or tangled arteries in the brain
• A hole in the heart  
• Heart problems.  

These things increase women’s risk of having a stroke:  

• Taking the contraceptive pill
• Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Being pregnant.

After a stroke, your doctor will talk to you about your risk factors. They’ll let you know what you need to do to lower your risk of another stroke.  

They’ll talk with you about being active, eating well, being a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and stopping smoking. They’ll prescribe medication to lower your risk of having another stroke.