Cerebrovascular disease is currently recognized worldwide as one of the three most important diseases threatening human life and health. According to the World Health Organization, about 12 million people die from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases worldwide every year, and the number of deaths of patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China is as high as 600,000 every year. 50%-70% of stroke survivors are left with serious disabilities such as paralysis and aphasia, which brings a heavy burden to families and society. There are many major risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. At present, the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in our population are rapidly increasing, and there is an overlap of multiple risk factors. Studies have confirmed that hypertension, diabetes, serum cholesterol levels and smoking are directly related to the prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but it is worth paying attention to the fact that, so far, these major risk factors have not decreased but increased at an alarming rate in our population, and it is crucial to actively control various risk factors. In recent years, with the rapid advances in diagnostic technology, certain unknown causes and risk factors have become clearer, however, if we want to reduce the incidence of stroke and the death rate, the most desirable action is to prevent various risk factors. There are many risk factors for stroke, and the research progress in recent years is reviewed below.