Women have specific stroke symptoms

Strokes affect both men and women. However, women are more negatively impacted as stroke is the third cause of death in women, compared to the fifth leading cause of death in men. Every year, about 55,000 more women have a stroke than men. Among the more than 137,000 Americans who die from stroke each year, about 60 percent of them women. This year, it is estimated that more than 100,000 women in the U.S. under age 65 will have a stroke.

Some people might be thinking, ‘don’t women live longer than men?’ Yes, they do. But when it comes to stroke, this only means a longer life of poor quality. The National Stroke Association says that more women will live alone when they have a stroke, will live in a healthcare facility after having a stroke, and have a worse recovery after having a stroke.

A new study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center says that many women are unaware that there are female-specific warning signs and symptoms of stroke. Men and women share some of the risk factors for stroke. This includes high blood pressure, smoking, and being sedentary. But there are a number of other risk factors that are specific to females.

Female-specific stroke warning signs/symptoms:

·       Hiccups that occur with unusual chest pain

·       Pregnancy (especially in final months and right after delivery)

·       Autoimmune disorders such as diabetes or lupus

·       Migraine headaches

·       Birth-control pills

·       Hormone replacement therapy

·       Dizziness (not associated with vertigo)

·       Systemic body numbness that is more severe on one side

·       History of preeclampsia/eclampsia

·       Clotting disorders associated with miscarriage or history of deep vein thrombosis

According to a survey taken by 1,000 women, a number of women are unaware of these female-specific symptoms. Only one in ten women was aware that hiccups that occur with unusual chest pain is an early warning sign of stroke. And only 11 percent of the women were aware that pregnancy, lupus, migraine headaches, birth-control pills and hormone replacement therapy increase their stroke risk.

"I think we have a ways to go when it comes to educating women about stroke and their unique risk factors," said Dr. Diana Greene-Chandos. Dr. Greene-Chandos is a neurologist and the director of neuroscience critical care. She also said, "Things like pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy and even something as trivial as a case of the hiccups can all play an important role when it comes to strokes in women, and we need to be more aware of it.”

It’s important for women to become aware of these female-specific warning signs and symptoms because identifying stroke symptoms early can prevent severe damage. When someone is having a stroke, there is a window of three hours in which medications to break up clots will suffice.

Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, identifying stroke symptoms early can make the difference between life and death. Common stroke warning signs/symptoms:

·       Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)

·       Sudden confusion, understanding things, or trouble speaking

·       Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

·       Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

·       Sudden severe headache with unknown cause