Somebody told me that strokes run in families. My father and elder brother both had stroke in their 60s. I am now approaching my 60th birthday and I am scared about the possibility of having a stroke. Kindly advise me on what to do.
Sina (by SMS)
Yes. Strokes can run in families. There are some people that are born with certain genes that predispose them to stroke. The genetic conditions predispose them to clotting which in turn may increase their stroke risk. In addition, if you have a strong family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or any of the major modifiable risk factors for stroke, you may also be at higher risk because of this. However, these particular conditions are very much treatable and you certainly can do something about them to lower your risk through regular medical checkups.
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