heart disease

While strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in adults in the United States, there are ways to reduce your risk of having one. Sometimes called a "brain attack," a stroke happens when blood flow is cut off to part of the brain, starving brain cells of oxygen. Within minutes, those cells begin to die, which can lead to permanent damage if not treated quickly. Reducing Your Risk of stroke. Some of the common risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking and a family history of strokes.