Stroke

Stroke

“Stroke is a leading cause of death for women.
In the United States, 1 in 5 women
between the ages of 55 and 75 will have a stroke”.1

Umbrella

What may the Stroke Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Brain Attack
  • Brain Stroke
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage
  • Cerebral Infarction
  • Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke
  • Ischemic Stroke
  • Stroke

Definition

What is a stroke?

DotS the definition of a stroke may vary. The American Stroke Association’s (ASA) definition is:

“A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die”.2

Cause

What causes a stroke?

In Stroke: About Stroke – What It Is the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) elaborate on:

“A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death”.3

Stroke

Risk Factors

What are risk factors for stroke?

In Stroke: Are You At Risk of Having A Stroke? the British Heart Foundation (BHF) elaborate on:

“Factors that increase your risk (chance) of having a stroke include:

  • …If you’re aged over 55…”.4

Atrial Fibrillation

Is atrial fibrillation (AF) a risk factor for stroke?

In Stroke: Are You At Risk of Having A Stroke? the BHF also note:

  • “If you have a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (AF) – if you have AF, the top chambers of your heart (your atria) do not pump blood through your heart as well as they should. If the chambers are not emptied properly, this can lead to a blood clot forming within the chamber. If this happens, there’s a risk that it can travel to your brain and block the blood flow”.5

African American Women

Are African American women at higher risk for stroke?

In Stroke: About Women and Stroke – At-Risk Populations: Why Are African American Women At Higher Risk for Stroke? the CDC elaborate on:

“Stroke is a leading cause of death among African American women, who are more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic White women or Hispanic women in the United States. African American people have the highest rate of death due to stroke among all racial and ethnic groups.

  • Almost 3 in 5 African American women are diagnosed with high blood pressure (greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg). This is a much higher proportion than White women (almost 2 in 5)…”.6

Common Symptoms

What are the most common symptoms of a stroke?

In Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Common Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease – Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke the World Health Organization elaborate on:

“The most common symptom of a stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of the body. Other symptoms include sudden onset of:

  • Numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
  • Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
  • Difficulty walking, dizziness and/or loss of balance or coordination
  • Severe headache with no known cause; and/or
  • Fainting or unconsciousness.

People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately”.7

Women’s Symptoms

What symptoms may women report that are different from the common symptoms?

In Symptoms of A Stroke In Women: How Do I Know If I’m Having A Stroke? Additional Stroke Symptoms That Might Be Seen In Women the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women elaborate on:

  • “Disorientation and confusion or memory problems
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting”.8

Stroke

Emergency Numbers

Can different countries have different emergency telephone numbers?

Different countries can have different emergency telephone numbers. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to check what your country’s emergency telephone number is.

High Blood PressureStroke

Is there an association between high blood pressure (HBP) and stroke?

In Risk Factors Under Your Control: High Blood Pressure the ASA note:

“High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke and a number of heart conditions. Without treatment, high blood pressure can advance and affect other systems”.9

Common or Not

How common is stroke?

In the United States according to the the American Stroke Association in About Stroke:

“Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States”.10

Women

In women, how common is stroke?

In Stroke: About Women and Stroke – Overview the CDC elaborate on:

“Stroke is a leading cause of death for women.1 In the United States, 1 in 5 women between the ages of 55 and 75 will have a stroke.

Surprised? You’re not alone. Many women do not know their risk of having a stroke”.11

Affect

How may a person be affected by stroke?

In Effects of Stroke the ASA explain:

“How you are affected by a stroke depends primarily on the location and the extent of damage to the brain tissue. Brain injury can cause changes in certain sensory, motor, or cognitive functions”.12

WISEWOMAN

What is the (United States) WISEWOMAN program?

In WISEWOMAN: About WISEWOMAN – Overview the CDC elaborate on:

“The Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program extends preventive health services to achieve optimal cardiovascular health for women aged 35-64 who participate in the CDC-funded National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The program helps participants understand and reduce their risk of CVD and benefit from early detection and treatment”.13

Health Care Provider

What if I think I am at risk of stroke or I have a family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

If you think you are at risk of stroke or you have a family history of CVD, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Prevention of Diseases After Menopause: Cardiovascular Diseases the authors note:

“Screening for CVD at regular intervals after menopause is extremely important. This includes measurement of blood pressure, lipids and perhaps inflammatory markers, BMI, and ascertainment of lifestyle factors such as activity level and smoking status. In addition, a family history of heart disease and stroke is important”.14

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Stroke?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Stroke?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
  2. 7 Things To Know About How Stroke Is Different for Women
  3. A Mayo Clinic Expert Explains Aphasia
  4. About Stroke
  5. About Women and Stroke
  6. American Stroke Association
  7. American Stroke Month [May]
  8. Aphasia and Stroke
  9. Ask Your Doctor How You Can Reduce Your Risk
  10. Atherosclerosis and Stroke
  11. Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke
  12. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
  13. Cardiovascular Disease
  14. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  15. Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]
  16. Doing These 8 Things May Greatly Lower Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke
  17. Effects of Stroke
  18. Empoweredtoserve.org [EmPOWERED To Serve]
  19. From Contraception To Menopause: Why Women Face A Higher Risk of Stroke
  20. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women]
  21. Healthy Lifestyle
  22. Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms: Warnings Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest
  23. Heart Disease and Stroke
  24. High Blood Pressure
  25. High Blood Pressure and Stroke
  26. High Blood Pressure and Women
  27. Hypertension
  28. Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act In Time.
  29. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  30. Know Your Risk
  31. Learn More Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms
  32. Life’s Essential 8
  33. May Is High Blood Pressure Education Month
  34. Mayo Clinic Minute: Know the Risk Factors To Prevent Stroke
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: Managing Atrial Fibrillation? [+ Video]
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: Poor Sleep Can Be Linked To Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Stroke Treatment [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Mayo Clinic Minute: Think ‘FAST’ To Recognize A Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  39. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is A Subarachnoid Hemorrhage? [+ Video]?
  40. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Women Need To Know About Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  41. Mayo Clinic Q and A: 5 Things To Know About Stroke
  42. Millionhearts.hhs.gov
  43. Mindyourrisks.nih.gov [Mind Your Risks]
  44. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  45. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: All Disorders
  46. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2024: Hormones and Stroke: An Update on Treatment and Risk
  47. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Evaluating High-Risk Patients In Menopause At Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) [26 November 2026]
  48. Questions About Heart Attack, Blood Pressure, BMI or Stroke? Find Answers Here
  49. Recovery After Stroke
  50. Recovering From A Stroke
  51. Reduce Your Risk of Stroke
  52. Risk Factors
  53. Risk Factors Under Your Control
  54. Stroke
  55. Stroke
  56. Stroke
  57. Stroke
  58. Stroke
  59. Stroke
  60. Stroke
  61. Stroke Information In Other Languages
  62. Stroke Prevention
  63. Stroke Risk Factors
  64. Stroke Symptoms: F A S T
  65. Stroke and Women
  66. Stroke vs. Heart Attack: What’s the Difference? [11 February 2026]
  67. Stroke – Causes, Signs and Symptoms
  68. Stroke – Causes, Signs and Symptoms: What Is A Stroke [+ Video]
  69. Stroke – Multiply Languages
  70. Stroke.org [National Stroke Association, United States]
  71. Stroke.org.uk  [Stroke Association, United Kingdom]
  72. Stroke: About Stroke
  73. Stroke: About Women and Stroke
  74. Stroke: Preventing Stroke
  75. Stroke: Stroke Risk Factors
  76. Stroke: Signs and Symptoms
  77. Stroke: What Is A Stroke?
  78. Strokefoundation.org.au [Stroke Foundation, Australia]
  79. Strokes and Brain Health Infographic
  80. TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)
  81. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  82. Types of Stroke and Treatment
  83. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  84. Video: The 4 Phases of Stroke Care — Starting With Prevention
  85. Wisewoman [United States]
  86. Watch, Learn and Live: Hemorrhagic Stroke
  87. Watch, Learn and Live: Ischemic Stroke
  88. Watch, Learn and Live: Transient Ischemic Attack
  89. What Are the Differences In Left vs. Right Brain Strokes?
  90. What Is A Stroke?
  91. What Is A Stroke? [Multiply Languages]
  92. Women and CVD
  93. Women and Risk of Stroke Infographic
    Stroke
  94. Women and Stroke
  95. Women and Stroke
  96. World Menopause Day 2023 [18 October]
  97. World Stroke Day [29 October]
    Stroke
  98. World-stroke.org [World Stroke Organization]
  99. Yourethecure.org [You’re the Cure, American Heart Association]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Stroke: About Women and Stroke – Overview. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/women-and-stroke.html Accessed: 22 August 2025
  2. About Stroke: What Is Stroke? American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke Accessed: 22 August 2025
  3. Stroke: About Stroke – What It Is. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/ Accessed: 22 August 2025
  4. Stroke: Are You At Risk of Having A Stroke? Published: 01 February 2024. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/stroke#risk Accessed: 22 August 2025
  5. Stroke: Are You At Risk of Having A Stroke? Published: 01 February 2024. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/stroke#risk Accessed: 22 August 2025
  6. Stroke: About Women and Stroke – At-Risk Populations: Why Are African American Women At Higher Risk for Stroke? 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/women-and-stroke.html Accessed: 22 August 2025
  7. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): Common Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease – Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke. 31 July 2025. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) Accessed: 22 August 2025
  8. Symptoms of A Stroke In Women: How Do I Know If I’m Having A Stroke? Additional Stroke Symptoms That Might Be Seen In Women. Last Reviewed: 31 January 2024. American Stroke Association https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/signs-and-symptoms-in-women/symptoms-of-a-stroke Accessed: 22 August 2025
  9. Risk Factors Under Your Control: High Blood Pressure. Last Reviewed: 20 May 2025. American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/risk-factors-under-your-control Accessed: 22 August 2025
  10. About Stroke. American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke Accessed: 22 August 2025
  11. Stroke: About Women and Stroke – Overview. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about/women-and-stroke.html Accessed: 22 August 2025
  12. Effects of Stroke. American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke Accessed: 22 August 2025
  13. WISEWOMAN: About WISEWOMAN – Overview. 15 May 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/index.htm Accessed: 22 August 2025
  14. Lobo, R. A., Davis, S. R., De Villiers, T. J., Gompel, A., Henderson, V. W., Hodis, H. N., Lumsden, M. A., Mack, W. J., Shapiro, S. and Baber, R. J. Prevention of Diseases After Menopause: Cardiovascular Diseases. 2014:7 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/wmd-2014-white-pages-english.pdf Accessed: 22 August 2025
Topic Last Updated: 12 February 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 August 2025

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