Four strokes in five are preventable, and half of men already have the main risk factor

A stroke — sometimes called a brain attack — happens when blood flow to part
of the brain is blocked, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Starved
of oxygen, brain cells die.

Stroke is a leading cause of death among men. And **about 4 in 5 strokes
are preventable**, which is what makes the risk factor list below worth
reading rather than filing.

First, the three hours

Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or
someone with you shows any sign of one — B.E.F.A.S.T.

**Some stroke treatments only work if given within the first 3 hours after
symptoms start.** Delay increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death.
That window is the reason the instruction is to call an ambulance rather than
drive, or wait to see whether it passes.

The risk factors, with how common they already are

High blood pressure is the major risk factor, and:

Read those percentages together and the "4 in 5 preventable" figure stops
being an abstraction. The single biggest lever is already present in half of
all men, and it is silent.

Why African American men are at higher risk

• More than 1 in 2 have blood pressure ≥130/80 mm Hg or take medicine for
  it
• About 1 in 9 have been diagnosed with diabetes — **and many more have it
  and do not know**
• Sickle cell disease, a common genetic disorder in African Americans, can
  cause a stroke. About 1 in 365 African American babies are born with it
• About 1 in 5 smoke
• About 7 in 10 have overweight or obesity
• US adults, including African Americans, **consume more salt than
  recommended**, which raises blood pressure

Five of those six are the same factors as the general list, at higher
prevalence. The sixth — sickle cell disease — is not, and it is the one a
general stroke-prevention message never mentions.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.