Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots to form in your heart. Having atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke by five times.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. It is a contributing factor in around half of all strokes.
Carotid artery disease
Resource type: Information leaflet
Publication type: Stroke information
Most strokes happen because of a blockage in an artery. A common cause of this is disease in the large carotid arteries in the front of your neck. This guide explains what can cause carotid artery disease and how it can be treated.