In the battle of the sexes, here’s one that women – often unknowingly – take the lead in: About 55,000 more women than men have strokes every year. Strokes kill more women than men annually, making it the No. 3 leading cause of death in women. In Arizona alone, more than 6,000 women suffered a stroke in 2016.
This gender misconception about strokes is common. Most people don’t realize that women suffer strokes more frequently than men. If you’re a woman, you share a lot of the same risk factors for strokes as a man, but a woman’s risk also is influenced by hormones, reproductive health, pregnancy, child-birth and other gender-related factors.
For example, birth control pills may double the risk of stroke, especially in women with high blood pressure or who smoke. And, according to the American Heart Association, hormone replacement therapy – once thought to reduce stroke risk – in fact, actually increases it.
A recent study shared through the National Stroke Association listed these factors that have been found to increase stroke risk in women:
- Menstruation before the age of 10
- Menopause before age 45
- Low levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS)
- Taking oral estrogen or combined oral contraceptives
The study also showed a history of pregnancy complications can also indicate higher stroke risk.
These problems include gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during or immediately after pregnancy.
Add this to other general risk factors for stroke – like family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise and being overweight – and it becomes clearer as to why women can be more at risk for stroke than men.
Whatever stage of life a woman is in, it’s important that she is aware of all the risk factors of stroke. As it’s often said, knowledge is power. And in this case, the more knowledgeable a woman is about her stroke risk factors, the more she’ll be able to understand how she can be affected and work with her physician or health care provider as appropriate to reduce them.
For more information about stroke prevention, Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is hosting a free Stroke Awareness Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 19. The event will feature guest speakers throughout the day and other activities such as stroke risk assessments, dietary education, pharmacy consultations, simulated stroke experiences and treatments, balance testing, cognition screenings and information from more than 20 community resources. To learn more or to make a lunch reservation or screening appointment, call Karen Russell at 602-540-5310 or email karenrussell@ernesthealth.com. QCBN
By Judy Baum, CEO MVRRH
Judy Baum is the CEO of Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.
Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital provides specialized physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from or living with disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. The hospital is consistently ranked in the Top 10 percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationally by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) and is certified by The Joint Commission in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation.
For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.
3700 N. Windsong Drive • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 • 928-759-8800 • www.mvrrh.ernesthealth.com
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