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HEALTH
A STROKE HAPPENS when blood STROKE blood pressure, diabetes or migraine
flow to the brain is interrupted, WARNING SIGNS with aura, is at a higher risk for
depriving it of oxygen. For women, ischemic stroke while she uses oral
strokes are a much bigger threat The most effective stroke treatments are contraceptives. For all other women, the
than most people think. Annually, only available if the stroke is recognized risk of birth control-related stroke is
about 55,000 more American and diagnosed as quickly as possible. minimal.
women than men have a stroke. »» Using hormone replacement therapy
You’ll be more prepared to act quickly to relieve menopausal symptoms.
In an era where pink ribbons for if you learn to recognize these telltale, »» Suffering from migraine headaches
breast cancer awareness appear sudden-onset signs of a stroke: with auras—visual or sensory
frequently, strokes have quietly become »» Confusion, trouble speaking or disturbances. These increase your
the third-leading cause of death for stroke risk by two and a half times.
American women and a leading cause of difficulty understanding speech »» Being pregnant. Pregnancy-related
disability. »» Numbness or weakness in the face, changes to your body, such as stress
on your heart and increased blood
“Each year, strokes kill twice as arm or leg, especially on one side of pressure. This causes an increased
many women as breast cancer. A lot of the body stroke risk during pregnancy,
people don’t know that,” says Denise »» Severe headache with no and other conditions—such as
Goings, MSN, RN, SCRN, Stroke Program apparent cause preeclampsia—increase the risk for
Coordinator at The Medical Center, »» Trouble seeing in one or both eyes stroke later in life.
Navicent Health. “Women typically have »» Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of “During pregnancy, keep close tabs
strokes in our later years. We have a balance or lack of coordination on your blood pressure and any kind
tendency to take care of everybody else Women may experience other of stress on your heart. Just make sure
throughout our lives, and then our own symptoms as well, including: you’re tuned in to what your body is
health slides.” »» General weakness saying to you,” Goings says. “Keep your
»» Hallucinations follow-up medical appointments. Lead a
The lack of focus on strokes can be »» Hiccups healthy lifestyle. Avoid greasy foods or
deadly, Goings says. If women don’t »» Loss of consciousness or fainting foods high in sodium.”
know they’re at risk, they’re more likely »» Nausea or vomiting
to downplay their symptoms and avoid »» Pain PREVENTING STROKES
going to the hospital if they’re actually »» Seizures
having a stroke. »» Shortness of breath To reduce your stroke risk, a healthy diet
»» Sudden behavioral change is key, as are these tips:
And if you’re having a stroke, If you spot symptoms of a »» If you smoke cigarettes and you
every minute counts. Getting medical stroke, don’t ignore them. Call 911
treatment as quickly as possible can immediately. experience migraines with aura, stop
make a huge difference in the amount of smoking immediately.
brain damage a stroke can cause. “Some symptoms may go »» If you’re pregnant, monitor your blood
undetected because women pressure.
WOMEN’S RISK FACTORS may not pay attention to them,” »» Before starting a birth control regimen,
says Denise Goings, MSN, get screened for high blood pressure.
Women tend to live longer than men, RN, SCRN, Stroke Program »» If you’re over 75, get screened for atrial
which is probably why more women Coordinator at The Medical fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat.
than men experience strokes each year. Center, Navicent Health. “The »» If you have concerns, get checked out
However, women still need to take steps percentage of strokes in women by a doctor. Don’t put it off.
to protect themselves. Know what puts age 45 or younger is increasing, “Prevention in general is staying healthy,
you at risk, and learn what steps you can and younger women may have eating a healthy diet and monitoring risk
take to lower your risk. different symptoms.” factors,” Goings says. “We have risk factors
we can and cannot control. If you have
There are certain factors that put some that you cannot control, such as your
everyone—women and men—in danger age or your gender, you want to focus on
of having a stroke. These include those factors you can control.”
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR TO HELP
diabetes, smoking, being overweight and YOU ESTABLISH HEALTHY HABITS?
lack of exercise. VISIT WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/
FIND-A-DOCTOR.
But women are faced with other risk
factors, such as: 5SUMMER 2019 | navicenthealth.org
»» Using birth control. Any woman
who already has stroke risk factors,
such as age, cigarette smoking, high