The Warning Signs of a Stroke in Women

A stroke is a medical condition that affects the brain, and it can leave its victim severely disabled. Speech can be affected after a stroke, as well as the ability to move and process thoughts. Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke and acting quickly to get medical help if you suspect you're having a stroke can save your life.

Facts

• Stroke is third on the list of causes of death in the United States, and white women are more at risk for a stroke and death from a stroke than women who are Asian American/Pacific Islanders. A stroke can damage and kill brain cells and leave one disabled. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the number of stroke victims in the U.S. totals 700,000. Four-fifths of all strokes are ischemic strokes.

Meaning of a Stroke

• A stroke is an attack on the brain whereby the flow of blood to the brain becomes obstructed. When a blood clot forms in an artery that leads to the brain, blood can't get past it and brain cells cannot receive oxygen and nutrients to survive. This type of stroke is an ischemic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke is another type of stroke, and it occurs when a blood vessel breaks and leads to bleeding in the brain. This type of stroke also deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients. A blockage in an artery can be caused by a blood clot (thrombosis), migration of a blood clot within the body (embolism), or partial closure of an artery that leads to the brain (stenosis).

Signs of a Stroke

• Be alert to any signs of numbness, weakness, or pain on one half of the body. Areas to be watched are the face or limbs. Be suspicious if you suddenly feel as if you cannot think straight, or if you find you are suddenly having trouble verbalizing your thoughts and you cannot comprehend what someone is saying to you. Be aware of vision problems that come on suddenly or problems with ambulating. Beware if you feel dizzy and/or lose your balance. Be attentive to severe headaches. Also watch for hiccups that start suddenly, nausea, lethargy, and pain in the chest, an inability to breathe and/or pounding of the heart.

Stroke Prevention

• High blood pressure tremendously raises your risk for a stroke. For this reason, you should talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower your blood pressure level if you have high blood pressure. Make sure your cholesterol is at a healthy level. Limit sodium intake, consume more potassium rich foods and plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Keep your weight at a level that is considered healthy for your age. Exercise for a minimum of ½ hour every day. If you smoke, quit. Smoking leads to blockages of the artery to the brain. Control blood levels, as complications from diabetes can cause a stroke.

Solution

• Dial 911 without hesitation if you exhibit any of the signs of a stroke. Don't brush it off if symptoms disappear in a short while as you could be having a mini-stroke, which is also referred to as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This is still an emergency situation that must be handled as such. Be aware a subsequent stroke of greater magnitude can occur hours or days after an ischemic attack.