A new study published in the journal ‘Neurology’ reveals that high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and smoking significantly increase the risk of severe strokes. Analyzing nearly 27,000 volunteers, the research highlighted that individuals with high blood pressure are 3.2 times more likely to suffer a severe stroke and 2.9 times more likely to experience mild to moderate strokes compared to those without the condition. Atrial fibrillation patients faced even higher risks—4.7 times for severe strokes. The findings stress the importance of managing these risk factors to prevent debilitating strokes.