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Condition

Stroke

Related terms: Ischaemic stroke, Haemorrhagic stroke, TIA, Transient ischaemic attack, FAST

EstablishedTextbook physiology, or consistent findings reflected in national guidance.
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A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly reduced, either because a clot blocks a blood vessel or because a vessel bursts and bleeds. A stroke is always a medical emergency.

  • Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of having a stroke, according to healthdirect.
  • Atrial fibrillation can increase the chance of having a stroke.
  • Treating conditions that raise your risk, such as high blood pressure, also lowers it.

How it works

Remember the signs with FAST. Face, has their face or mouth drooped? Arms, can they lift both arms? Speech, is their speech slurred and do they understand you? Time, if you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) immediately. The longer it takes to get treatment, the more likely there will be brain damage afterwards. A TIA is a temporary blockage of the blood supply to the brain.

Risk factors you can control include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, drinking alcohol, being inactive, an unhealthy diet and atrial fibrillation. Older age, being male and a family history of stroke also raise the risk. Staying active, eating a diet high in fibre, fruit, nuts, vegetables and healthy fats and low in saturated fat and salt, quitting smoking and avoiding or reducing alcohol all lower it.

Looking after it

Call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance if you see any FAST sign, such as a drooping face or mouth, arms that cannot both be lifted, or slurred or confused speech.

Connections

9 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.

Stroke affects Brain and nervous systemBrain and nervous systemStroke can be lowered by Physical activityPhysical activityStroke can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholStroke can be raised by Atrial fibrillation (AF)Atrial fibrillationStroke can be raised by High blood pressureHigh blood pressureStroke can be raised by High cholesterolHigh cholesterolStroke can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweightand obesityStroke can be raised by SmokingSmokingStroke can be raised by Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesStroke affects Brain and nervous systemBrain andnervous systemStroke can be lowered by Physical activityPhysical activityStroke can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholStroke can be raised by Atrial fibrillation (AF)Atrial fibrillationStroke can be raised by High blood pressureHigh blood pressureStroke can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweight and obesityStroke can be raised by SmokingSmokingStroke can be raised by Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesand 1 more below

Stroke can be raised by

Stroke affects

Stroke can be lowered by

Medicines and supplements

General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.

Sources

  1. Strokehealthdirect Australia, last reviewed December 2024
  2. Atrial fibrillationhealthdirect Australia, last reviewed April 2025

Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.

Summarised from healthdirect. Sources read on 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.

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