People at risk for a stroke
- People who have already had a transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke) or a stroke;
- People with heart trouble (abnormal heart valve, heart failure or cardiac arrhythmia) and those who have recently had a myocardial infarction. Atrial fibrillation, a form of cardiac arrhythmia, is particularly dangerous because it causes blood to stagnate in the heart; this leads to the formation of blood clots. If these clots travel to the arteries in the brain, they can cause a stroke;
- The people diabetics. Diabetes contributes to atherosclerosis and reduces the body’s ability to dissolve blood clots;
- People who suffer from migraines;
- People with sleep apnea. Apnea can cause high blood pressure and contribute to the formation of blood clots;
- People with a high number of red blood cells in the blood (polycythemia);
- People with a close relative who has had a stroke.