A stroke, or brain attack, happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die.
While anyone can have a stroke, women face unique risks. They may have symptoms that are harder to recognize as a stroke. The FAST acronym can help you remember the early warning signs: Face drooping, Arm weakness and Speech difficulty.
High blood pressure
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Without oxygen-rich blood, the brain cells die. Almost 4 in 5 strokes are preventable, and women can be more at risk than men.
Health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and lifestyle factors such as smoking increase a woman’s risk of having a stroke. But women also have specific risk factors that are unique to them.
Women are more likely than men to have a stroke, especially after age 50. This is due in part to hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that affect blood circulation, and the fact that women generally live longer than men. Women tend to have more ischemic strokes, which are caused by blocked arteries, and hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by a bleed in the brain. Black women in the United States are more at risk for having a stroke than white and Hispanic women. This may be a result of a lifetime of racial discrimination, poorer access to healthcare and higher incidence of certain underlying diseases, such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.
High blood pressure is the most common cause of a stroke in a woman. Women are more likely to have stage 2 high blood pressure, meaning their blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher. High blood pressure strains the blood vessels in the body and increases the likelihood that they will rupture or clot.
In addition to taking medication for blood pressure, women can help lower their risk by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and avoiding smoking and harmful substances. For women already experiencing the symptoms of a stroke, getting treatment as soon as possible can improve outcomes and reduce their chances of another stroke.
CDC and its partners are leading programs to improve the lives of women by reducing stroke rates. These include the WISEWOMAN program, which provides low-income, underinsured and uninsured women with chronic disease risk factor screening and lifestyle programs. The Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program funds states to improve stroke care and reduce death and disability from stroke.
Heart disease
A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is blocked by a clot or when an artery bursts and leaks blood into the brain. It is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world. Fortunately, most women can make lifestyle changes to significantly reduce their risk of having a stroke. These include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and taking medications for high blood pressure, cholesterol and other conditions that increase their risk of stroke.
The most common type of stroke is an ischaemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot in an artery that supplies oxygen to the brain. The clot forms in areas of the arteries that have become narrowed over time due to a buildup of fatty deposits, a process called atherosclerosis. Blood clots can also form in the heart and travel to the brain through the bloodstream, which is called an embolism. An embolism in the brain is called a cerebral embolism and can cause symptoms similar to those of a stroke.
Other types of strokes are haemorrhagic strokes, which are caused when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and leaks into the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes can cause severe headaches and brain damage. They are more likely to occur in people with high blood pressure or a history of heart disease.
Some factors that increase your risk of having a stroke are outside your control, such as age and gender. However, there are many other factors that can be controlled. Some of the most important ones include diet, exercise and medications to treat blood pressure, cholesterol and high blood sugar.
Women and people assigned female at birth are at higher risk of having a stroke than men, and the risk increases with age. They are also more likely to die of a stroke than men. This is partly because more women have high blood pressure during pregnancy and the weeks after birth. They are also more likely to have a condition that can lead to blood clots, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Diabetes
People with diabetes have double the risk of having a stroke compared to those without the condition. This is especially true if the blood sugar level is not well controlled. Diabetes can increase the chance of having a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain, causing tissue to die.
If you are diabetic, it is important to work closely with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels under control. It is also a good idea to get regular health screenings, including a check of your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Pregnancy and the postpartum period introduce unique physiological changes that can also increase a woman’s risk of stroke. High blood pressure, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are all factors that can cause a stroke. Women who have these conditions should get regular prenatal care and follow their doctors’ advice regarding diet, exercise and medications.
Stroke is more common in women than men, and they tend to have worse outcomes. They have more strokes much later in life, and they have a higher overall incidence of risk factors such as high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. The decline in estrogen levels that happens during menopause can also increase a woman’s risk, which can be helped by hormone therapy and diet modification.
In the emergency room, a woman who experiences symptoms of a stroke will be given medication to dissolve a possible clot or reduce the swelling in her brain caused by fluid leaking from damaged blood vessels. The type of treatment she receives will depend on the type of stroke she has and how quickly it is treated.
4 in 5 strokes are preventable, according to CDC data. While some risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol cannot be changed, a person can reduce their risk by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular medical screenings. CDC and its partners lead programs that promote these prevention strategies, including the WISEWOMAN program, Million Hearts and the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program.
Stroke during pregnancy
Pregnancy can increase the risk of a stroke. Unlike men, women tend to get more strokes due to high blood pressure and blood cholesterol, plaque buildup, wear and tear on the arteries and poorer control of diabetes. They are also at a greater risk of developing a blood clot, which is one of the most common causes of a stroke. In addition, women are more likely to develop a blood clot in the vein of the brain, which is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes are typically more severe than ischemic strokes.
Stroke during pregnancy is less common than in non-pregnant women, but it does happen. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including hypertensive disorders, coagulation disorders, and gestational hypertension. Symptoms of these conditions include high blood pressure, numbness and tingling in the extremities, and headache.
A stroke is a medical emergency, and women who are pregnant should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. If they are not at risk for a stroke, they should continue to follow their doctor’s advice for prevention. This includes taking medication to manage high blood pressure and taking blood thinners to reduce the chance of a blood clot.
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an important cause of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in pregnancy. This condition is associated with hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and decreased levels of antithrombotic proteins, particularly factor VIII. Thrombolytic therapy, such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator or endovascular clot retrieval, appears to be safe during pregnancy.
The most common type of stroke during pregnancy is ischemic, which occurs from an artery blockage. It can occur during labor and delivery, or after birth, when it is called postpartum stroke. About 10 percent of strokes happen before the baby is born, and 40 percent occur during labor or delivery. The rest happen within six weeks after delivery.
The best way to minimize the chances of a stroke is to follow your doctor’s recommendations and to take medications as prescribed. Be sure to see your doctor regularly and report any symptoms, such as facial drooping or arm weakness. If you notice these symptoms, call 911 immediately and follow the FAST rules: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.
