While high blood pressure is the most common cause for stroke, there are other less-well-known culprits that exist such as cigarette smoking, birth control pills, riding a roller coaster, pregnancy, getting a salon hair wash, and chiropractic neck adjustments.

Smoking almost doubles a person's risk for ischemic stroke. Nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure, and carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen that blood can carry to the brain. Cigarette smoking also increases the risk of stroke by promoting thickening of the arteries and increasing the levels of blood clotting factors, such as fibrinogen.

The American Stroke Association states that birth control pills that contain estrogen can increase your risk of having blood clots, which can lead to a stroke if the clot forms in the brain. Birth control pills can also increase your blood pressure. Birth control pills are not recommended for women over 35 who smoke because there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. So if you smoke while on birth control, then you are placing yourself at a higher risk for stroke.