Stroke can happen to anyone. However, women have a higher risk of stroke. Stroke occurs if there is a blood clot that inhibits blood flow to the brain. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 5 women in the country will have a stroke, even as the number of stroke deaths is said to be twice as high as breast cancer. In addition, stroke is accused as the number 3 killer for women there.
Symptoms and Risk Factors for Stroke
Strokes often begin with symptoms of difficulty speaking or unclear words. The most common stroke symptoms include:
- Visual impairment in one or both eyes.
- Sudden numbness or paralysis in one side of the limb.
- Difficulty speaking suddenly.
- Sudden headaches, difficulty walking or loss of balance.
Women have unique stroke risk factors. Having high blood pressure while pregnant increases the risk of stroke. Some types of birth control drugs can also increase the risk of stroke in women with high blood pressure, especially if the woman has a habit of smoking. In addition, women also have a twice as high tendency to experience depression and anxiety disorders. These mental health problems have also been found to increase the risk of stroke in women. However, not all women are at risk of having a stroke. African-American women are at twice the risk of having a stroke, and the main cause is likely due to high blood pressure, excess weight, and diabetes.
Stroke Treatment
Strokes should be treated promptly by a medical expert. The doctor will diagnose and perform treatment for a stroke based on its type. Here are the types of strokes and their treatments. Ischemic stroke
To prevent blood clots that block blood flow to the brain, your doctor will give you a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) medication. This medicine should be given within the first 3-4 hours when the first symptoms appear to be more effective, according to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). Another option without tPA, the doctor will give blood thinning injections or other anticoagulant drugs that stop platelets from forming clots. In addition, there are other treatment options including surgery to break up clots and open a blockade of blood vessels. Based on the latest medical guidelines, the method of surgery to remove the blood clot can be done a maximum of 24 hours after the initial symptoms of stroke appear. Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture or leak. This type of stroke treatment is different from ischemic stroke. These treatments are given based on the cause of the stroke, namely:
- Your doctor will suggest surgery to block blood flow to the aneurysm.
- High blood pressure. Your doctor will prescribe medications that can lower blood pressure and reduce bleeding.
- Broken blood vessels. Your doctor will recommend arteriovenous malformation (AVM) repair to prevent bleeding.
Stroke Prevention
Every year, the number of women in the U.S. who die from stroke is twice as many as women with breast cancer. That's why it's so important to stay healthy. Stroke prevention can be done in the following ways:
- Eat with balanced nutrition.
- Maintain the ideal body weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid nicotine.
- Do hobbies, such as knitting or yoga, to help relieve stress better.
Women should also take additional precautions due to the unique risk factors they face. For example, by always monitoring blood pressure during pregnancy and performing atrial fibrillation (AFib) examinations for women over 75 years of age. Let's avoid stroke by adopting a healthy lifestyle, as a precaution in the future.
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