Stroke in Women

According to studies, an estimated one in five American women will have a stroke, and nearly 60 percent will die from the attack. Stroke is considered to be the third leading cause of death for women.

There are many reasons women face a greater chance of having a stroke: They live longer, experience more stress, and are more likely to have high blood pressure. Pregnancy and birth control also increase a woman’s risk of stroke.

The more you know about the symptoms of stroke in women, the better you’ll be able to get help. Quick treatment can mean the difference between disability and recovery. Women may report symptoms not often associated with strokes in men. These can include:

• nausea or vomiting

• seizures

• hiccups

• trouble breathing

• pain

• fainting or loss of consciousness

• general weakness

Because these symptoms are unique to women, it may be difficult to immediately connect them to stroke. This can delay treatment, which may hinder recovery.

If you’re a woman and unsure whether your symptoms are that of a stroke, you should still call your local emergency services. Once paramedics arrive on the scene, they can assess your symptoms and begin treatment, if needed.

Odd behaviors, such as sudden drowsiness, can also indicate a stroke. Clinicians call these symptoms “altered mental status.”

These symptoms include:

• unresponsiveness

• disorientation

• confusion

• sudden behavioral change

• agitation

• hallucination

Researchers found that altered mental status was the most common nontraditional symptom. About 23 percent of women and 15 percent of men reported altered mental status related to stroke. Although both men and women can be affected, women are about 1.5 times more likely to report at least one nontraditional stroke symptom. #stroke #strokeinwomen #women #womenshealth #health #winnielimkhoo #neurologist #specialist #neurologistinmanila #manila #philippines #health #tips #advise