Received 01 October 2015 Accepted 08 January 2016 Early online 25 January 2016 Print 31 January 2016 Stroke is a devastating and disabling cerebrovascular disease with significant amount of residual deficit leading on economic loss. Creating awareness on common risk factors will reduce the incidence of stroke. The study was conducted to compare the risk factors and lipid profile pattern in ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. This was a descriptive retrospective cross sectional study carried on new onset acute stroke patients admitted to Osmania General Hospital, Telangana State. 100 patients (n=50 ischemic stroke (isch), n=50 hemorrhagic stroke (haem) were studied over a period of one year from May 2014 to April 2015. Data such as risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, fasting lipid profile, CT or MRI brain were collected from medical records. A total of 100 patients were studied of whom 68 were males (isch n=32, haem n=36) and 32 were females (isch n=18, haem n=14). Patients with age 60 years n=37. Risk factors included were hypertension n= 62 (isch n=29, haem n=33), diabetes n=22 (isch n=12, haem n=10), both diabetes and hypertension n=15; smoking n=41 (isch n=24, haem n=17) alcoholism n=38 (isch n=22, haem n=16) and >2 risk factors in n=46 (isch n=26, haem n=20). Dyslipidemia (LDL >130, TC>200, HDL<40) as per ATP III guidelines was present in n=69 (43 isch+26 haem) patients. Patients with high LDL were n=15 (9 isch, 6 haem), high total cholesterol was found in n=15 (10 isch, 5 haem), low HDL cholesterol in n=60 (isch n=35, haem n=25) with a p=0.0124. Present study concludes hypertension in 62 %, low HDL (< 40 mg/dl) in 60 %, smoking in 41% are the risk factors for both ischemic and haemorrhagic strokes which are modifiable risk factors. Low HDL cholesterol is more significant with a p=0.0124 which can be improved by exercise. Corresponding author