Medicinski pregled 2011 Volume 64, Issue 11-12, Pages: 600-605
https://doi.org/10.2298/MPNS1112600M
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Risk factors for stroke
Mandić Milan (Klinički centar Niš, Klinika za fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju, Niš)
Rančić Nataša (Medicinski fakultet, Niš)
Introduction. Stroke is the third cause of mortality both in men and in women
throughout the world. In Serbia, stroke is the first cause of mortality in
women older than 55 years of age and the second cause of death in men of the
same age. Both ischemic heart diseases and ischemic stroke correlate with the
same predisposing, potentially modifiable risk factors (hypertension,
abnormal blood lipids and lipoproteins, cigarette smoking, physical
inactivity, obesity, diabetes mellitus). Stroke does not usually occur on its
own. Patients with stroke have a high prevalence of associated medical
problems. These conditions may predict the stroke (”preexisting conditions”),
occur for the first time after stroke (”post-stroke complications”), or
present as manifestations of preexisting medical conditions after stroke.
Risk factors. Risk factors for stroke are divided into the three groups: risk
factors which cannot be influenced on such as: age, gender, positive family
history of stroke, race; those which are modifiable such as: hypertension,
diabetes mellitus, smoking cigarettes, obesity, physical inactivity and the
third group consists of potential risk factors for stroke (consumption of
alcohol, hormones, changes in fibrinolysis, changes in blood. Conclusion.
Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability and premature death of
both men and women. Consequently, stroke survivors are often handicapped and
doomed to sedentary lifestyle which restrains performance of activities of
daily living, increases the risk for falls, and may contribute to a higher
risk for recurrent stroke and cardiovascular disease. Prevention of stroke is
still a great medical and social problem. Further studies are required to
investigate potential risk factors for the occurrence of stroke as well as
the measures of primary and secondary prevention.
Keywords: Stroke, Risk Factors, Male, Female, Mortality, Quality of Life