Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men.
Its important to recognize these subtle symptoms and get immediate help.
This article will discuss the signs of stroke in women and how to prevent a stroke.
Verywell / Katie Kerpel
Knowing more could preserve your life or the life of a loved one.
Symptoms include:
Call for emergency medical help if you experience or witness any of these symptoms.
Uncommon symptoms can affect anyone at any age, but they may be more common in women.
Most studies that examine the effects of stroke in women include people who were identified as female at birth.
Fatigue and Weakness
Sometimes a stroke can lead to generalized fatigue and overall weakness.
This might not necessarily manifest as weakness on one side of the body.
Pain is an uncommon symptom of stroke, but it can occur.
Confusion and Difficulty Thinking Clearly
Brain damage usually interferes with a persons ability to think clearly.
Having trouble communicating can worsen confusion.
A stroke can also cause increased pressure in the brain due tocerebral edema(brain swelling).
This may lead to confusion and trouble with thinking.
Sometimes incontinence (unintended release of urine or stool) can occur along with confusion.
This is usually accompanied by a headache.
Women also have some additional risk factors that do not affect men.
This increases the risk of strokes and other types of blood clots.
Sometimes the hormonal changes of a normalpregnancycan also increase the risk of blood clots.
Each of these problems increases the risk of stroke, and treatment can help reduce the risk.
For some women, obesity can alter estrogen levels, potentially increasing stroke risk.
Migraine Headache With Aura
Migrainessometimes occur with or are preceded by anaura.
Symptoms of an aura include:
Having migraines with aura can increase your risk of stroke.
Women are more likely than men to experience migraine, with or without aura.
Lifestyle Factors
Some lifestyle factors have a profound effect on stroke risk.
Smoking, heavy alcohol use, malnutrition, and severe stress can increase the risk of stroke.
And using hormone therapy orhormone-based contraceptivesalong with smoking can compound the risk.
Treatment for Stroke
The immediate treatments for stroke aim to reduce brain damage.
Research suggests that some treatments may have different effects on women than they have on men.
How Women Can Prevent Stroke
Stroke prevention is extremely important for anyone who has risk factors.
This means maintaining optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels and getting treatment for diabetes and heart disease.
Additionally, smoking cessation is vital.
Summary
Stroke is a serious health condition that has life-altering consequences, with potential disability and death.
Symptoms begin quickly due to insufficient blood supply to a region in the brain.
The symptoms resolve within a few minutes, when blood flow is naturally restored before brain damage occurs.
Yes, you should seek emergency medical attention for stroke symptoms, even if they go away quickly.
American Heart Association.2021 heart disease and stroke statistics update fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Women and stroke.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Stroke signs and symptoms.
Bushnell CD, Chaturvedi S, Gage KR, et.
2016;45(12 Pt 2):e409-e418.
