Common risk factors in the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage include smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure) and excessive alcohol intake; all are associated with a doubled risk for SAH. Some protection of uncertain significance is conferred by Caucasian ethnicity, hormone replacement therapy, and a higher than normal cholesterol.^[1][2]

Common risk factors in the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage include: ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

• Connective tissue diseases
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
• Familial hyperaldosteronism type I
• Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
• Moyamoya syndrome

• Arteriovenous malformation
• Head injury
• Hypertension
• Cigarette smoking
• Estrogen deficiency
• Female gender (1.5 fold)
• African race (2 fold)
• Japanese or Finnish descent
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Arteriovenous malformation

Common trigger events in the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage include:^[11][12][13]

• Physical exertion
• Acute elevation in blood pressure
• Caffeine consumption
• Acute anger
• Startling
• Sexual exertion

The highest incidence of rupture occurred while patients were engaged in their daily routines, in the absence of strenuous physical activity.^[14]