A stroke is a serious problem in the brain. It occurs when blood flow to a certain area gets blocked, or a blood vessel bursts, putting brain cells at risk. While men often have a higher risk for stroke than women, women are more likely to die when a stroke hits.
Approximately 60% of stroke-related deaths occur in women. Furthermore, strokes kill nearly twice as many women every year as breast cancer, making it the fifth leading cause of death for women. Studies also show that 1 in 5 people have a stroke between 55-75 years of age.
These numbers may seem bleak, but there’s also good news. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 in 5 strokes are preventable — but you need to understand your risks and take action.
The team at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center in Tomball, Texas, provides expert preventive and general cardiology services to countless men and women.
In this month’s blog, they explain how stroke risks differ between the sexes and what every woman should know to protect her heart health.
There are several lifestyle and medical risk factors that increase your chances for stroke, regardless of gender, such as:
Similarly, people aged 55 or older have a higher risk for stroke than younger populations. Furthermore, people of African-American or Hispanic descent have a higher risk as well.
So, how are women’s risks different?
There are three specific reasons why women have a higher risk for stroke and serious complications when compared with men.
To start, nearly 40% of women live with high blood pressure or take medication to control their numbers, which is a major risk factor for the condition.
Reproductive hormones also increase a woman’s chances for stroke, especially oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and postmenopausal hormone therapy. Similarly, your risks for stroke increase if you had preeclampsia, eclampsia, or gestational diabetes.
A woman’s average lifespan is typically longer than a man’s. Since the chances for stroke increases with age, that puts women at higher risk throughout their lifetime.
Fortunately, you can often reduce your risks for stroke by adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as:
You should also work closely with an expert like the cardiologists at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center if you have a risk or a diagnosed heart condition. Your Lone Star Heart and Vascular cardiologist can give you personalized strategies to help you avoid dangerous health complications, such as stroke.
Finally, it’s crucial to learn the warning signs of a stroke, so you can seek emergency care as quickly as possible. All you have to do is remember to “Think FAST.”
A stroke can interfere with a person’s ability to speak, think, see, and move. Think FAST stands for the following:
Even if these signs seem mild, it’s essential to contact an expert as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the higher the risk for brain damage, disability, and even death. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially if it could involve a stroke.
Could you be at risk for stroke? Protect your heart health by scheduling a visit with a specialist at Lone Star Heart and Vascular Center today. Call the office at (281) 255-2000 or request an appointment using the online booking tool.
