Are strokes hereditary and what is the cause.

[Rae1973]

Hiya

I am just wondering if anyone can clear this up for me.

Does anyone know what causes a stroke and also are they hereditary.

Thanks

Isn't high blood pressure a risk factor and doesn't that (hypertension) run in families?

the risk factors are usually a mixture of nature & nurture (eg genes which predispose you to high bp and environmental factors like diet, smoking)

my mum had a stroke 18 months ago owing to hereditary hypertension and high cholesterol.

She had to have an operation to unclog one of her carotid arteries, and she's fine now.

My mum had one and as far as I know no-one else in the family as, I was just curious thats all.

There are 2 types of stroke

1. a clot in the blood blocks the blood flow to part of the brain
2. something such as high blood pressure or a weakness in a blood vessel allows bleeding into the brain.

You would need to know what kind of stroke your Mum had to know if you would be at risk, but if yu are worried at all talk to either your doctor or hers, to ask them what you can do to keep your risk down. It might not be something you can do anything about but it would be worthwhile knowing if you caould make it less likely for yourself.

There must be something hereditry about them because all of my grandparents died from strokes/heart attacks so I am not allowed to go on the pill because my risk is greater!!