Final answer:
Elevated blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and obesity are significant risk factors for experiencing a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). These factors can lead to atherosclerosis and the blockage of blood supply to the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following factors puts a patient at high risk of experiencing a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also known as a stroke? The main risk factors include elevated blood pressure (hypertension), smoking, diabetes, obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood cholesterol, and poor diet. Hypertension is the leading risk factor, thus maintaining normal blood pressure is crucial for stroke prevention. Smoking and diabetes both contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, which narrows the arteries and can lead to a blockage of blood supply to the brain. Obesity is also a major risk factor and can be associated with other risk factors like hypertension and high blood triglycerides, potentially having an independent effect on cardiovascular disease risk.