Other symptoms include sudden numbness in the legs, sudden
confusion or trouble seeing, sudden dizziness or loss of
balance, or a sudden severe headache. If you or a loved one is
at high risk for a stroke, download the American Stroke
Association's new F.A.S.T. mobile app, available for iPhones and
iPads on the App Store. An Android version is coming soon. Your
diet and exercise habits play a big role in your risk for having
a stroke. Remember, fatty deposits in blood vessels cause the
majority of stroke cases. High blood pressure is the leading
cause of stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.
Smoking can also play a role: Nicotine and carbon dioxide cause
damage to your blood vessels, weakening them and putting you at
risk of a hemorrhagic stroke. Genetics may be a risk factor as
well. Your risk of having a stroke is higher if an immediate
family member has had a stroke, according to the asociation.
"Some strokes may be symptoms of genetic disorders like CADASIL,
which is caused by a gene mutat