A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.
The consequences can be devastating, potentially affecting speech, memory, movement and independence.
That is why protecting cardiovascular health throughout adulthood matters so much. Controlling blood pressure, avoiding smoking, staying active and managing other cardiovascular risk factors can help lower stroke risk.
4. Cancer
Cancer is not one single disease. It is a large group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth, and the risk of many cancers increases with age.
Reaching your 60s or beyond without a cancer diagnosis can certainly be encouraging, but it does not mean that cancer is no longer a possibility.
Some risk factors are beyond our control, including genetics and simply getting older. Others can be modified, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and certain environmental exposures.
Regular age-appropriate screenings are also important because some cancers can be detected before symptoms appear.
