Revealed – guidelines for stroke prevention in women

American experts have issued 'how to prevent a stroke guidelines' for women, based on risks that are unique to them, and have also listed scientifically-based recommendations for its treatment. The st

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: February 9, 2014 10:36 am

American experts have issued ‘how to prevent a stroke guidelines’ for women, based on risks that are unique to them, and have also listed scientifically-based recommendations for its treatment. The stroke prevention guidelines for women have been released with the help of an expert at the University of Alabama. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans and 60% of strokes occur in women, according to the American Stroke Association, reports Science Daily. Also Read - Avoid sexual dysfunction: Having multiple partners may actually be good for you

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‘Men are physiologically different from women, so preventive tips cannot be one-size-fits-all,’ explained Virginia Howard, Ph.D. and co-author of the new scientific statement Guidelines for the Prevention of Stroke in Women, published by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Council on Stroke in the AHA journal Stroke. Also Read - Early menopause ups your risk of osteoporosis by almost 56 per cent: How to deal with it

‘There are many considerations about stroke that might be different for women: Reproductive factors and risk factors more common or stronger in women, like diabetes and atrial fibrillation, might get lost in a general guidelines document,’ said Howard. The guidelines report stroke risks unique to women and provide scientifically based recommendations on how best to treat them, including:

Women should be screened for high blood pressure before being prescribed birth control pills, which raise blood pressure in some women.
Women with a history of high blood pressure before pregnancy should be considered for low-dose aspirin and/or calcium supplement therapy to lower pre-eclampsia risks.
Women who have had pre-eclampsia are at twice the risk of stroke and a fourfold risk of high blood pressure later in life. Therefore, pre-eclampsia should be recognized as a risk factor well after pregnancy and other risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol and obesity in these women should be treated early.
Pregnant women with moderately high blood pressure (150-159 mm Hg/100-109 mm Hg) may be considered for blood pressure medication whereas expectant mothers with very high blood pressure (160/110 mm Hg or above) should be treated.

‘Getting these preventive measures to doctors is exciting because it’s an opportunity to start the conversation early; people think stroke is just an ‘old person’s disease,’ Howard said.

‘While it generally is, it’s also preventable. There are many things women can do at younger ages, during child-bearing years, which can impact stroke risk later in life.’

What is stroke?
Also known as a cerebrovascular accident, a stroke is a medical emergency in which a part of the brain doesn’t receive blood supply. Brain cells of the affected region begin to die within a few minutes and often result in long-term dysfunction of the body part controlled by the affected brain area. There are two main types of strokes Ischemic and Haemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by a block (blood clot) in the blood vessel and a haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding through a tear in the blood vessel.

Risk factors include smoking drinking, drinking, high blood pressure, high blood glucose (diabetes), heart disease, high cholesterol obesity, low HDL and drug abuse.

Signs and symptoms of stroke include numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. There is sudden confusion, severe headache with no known cause and trouble in speaking, understanding, seeing, walking, dizziness or loss of balance. Stroke is diagnosed by a clinical (neurological) examination and imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans which determine the type and cause of stroke.

Use the handy mnemonic FAST to recognize the symptoms:

F (face): uneven smile, facial droopiness, numbness, vision disturbance

A (arm and leg): weakness, numbness, difficulty walking

S (speech): slurred, inappropriate words, mute

T (time): Realize that time is critical. If you notice any of the above symptoms, immediately call 911 studies show that you get faster care if you arrive at the hospital in an ambulance than if someone drives you. With strokes, time lost is brain lost simple as that.

Tips to keep stroke at bay

Get some exercise

Walk at least 20 minutes a day. Even if you break it up into two 10-minute sessions, it’s worth it. Walking a total of 2 hours a week can cut your stroke risk by 30 percent, according to a large study of nearly 40,000 women, conducted over a 12-year period. Walk briskly (so you can talk but not sing) and your chances are reduced by almost 40 percent.

Get the right amount of sleep

Set your alarm for 7 hours of sleep. More than 10 a night in la-la land may increase your stroke risk by up to 63 percent, compared with the recommended 7-hour stretch, scientists at Harvard claim. And if you’re especially loud in bed while snoring, that is studies suggest you’re twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that raises your risk of stroke, as well as heart disease and diabetes.

Switch to a healthier diet

Healthier food options will help you lower your bad cholesterol levels, keep heart disease at bay and also prevent obesity. Various researches have shown that healthier eating habits have a causal link with less heart disease and stroke risk. Check out our diet section for tasty, healthy recipes.

Mind the migraine

Those extra-special headaches particularly the ones that come with flashes of light and blind spots appear linked to a higher stroke risk in women; and as an added bonus, most migraine-sufferers are women, thanks in part to hormonal fluctuations and medications. Though there’s no clear proof that indicates treating a migraine means no stroke, experts agree it’s reasonable to try and reduce their frequency. Talk with your doctor she may prescribe preventive meds or suggest stress management techniques.

Don’t ignore irregular heartbeats

Pay attention to palpitations especially if the heart flutters occur with shortness of breath, light-headedness, and chest pain those are all signs of atrial fibrillation (AF), an abnormal heartbeat that boosts risk of stroke about five-fold.

Eat potassium-rich food

Eat sweet potatoes and raisins and bananas and tomato paste. Not all on the same plate but individually, each is loaded with potassium and a diet rich in foods with this nutrient may reduce stroke risk by 20 percent, suggests a recent report. More good sources: fruits and veggies, fish, poultry, and dairy.