You could be at increased risk.

Have you had a recent stroke? If so, you're at increased risk of having a future stroke, or even a heart attack. In fact, research shows that people who have had a stroke face a 9 times greater risk of stroke and more than 2 times greater risk of heart attack. And that risk never goes away.

However, there are ways you can help reduce your risk of a future stroke or heart attack. This booklet explains how. But first, you need to know the answer to a very important question:

What causes a stroke?

87% of all strokes occur when platelets in the blood stick together and form clots. Here's why:

• Most people at risk for a stroke have plaque buildup in their arteries (Fig. 2)
• When there is a rupture in this plaque, platelets in the blood rush to the rupture and stick to the damaged area (Fig. 3)
• As platelets continue to stick together, they form clots (Fig. 4) that can restrict blood flow
• If these clots form and travel to an artery supplying blood to the brain, they may cause a stroke