Stroke

“Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer does, making stroke the third leading cause of death for women.Surprised? You’re not alone”.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:

“Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain”.2

Cause

What causes a stroke?

In About Stroke 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

Risk Factors

What are risk factors for stroke?

In Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms: What Increases My Chance of Having A Stroke? the British Heart Foundation (BHF) explain what risk factors are and note:

“A risk factor increases your chance of developing a condition. Risk factors for a stroke are similar to those for heart diseases, such as angina or heart attacks”.4

Atrial Fibrillation

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

Yes. In Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms: What Increases My Chance of Having A Stroke? the BHF also note:

“If you have an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF) your risk of stroke is increased. This is because AF increases the risk of a blood clot forming inside the top chambers of your heart. If this happens, it can travel to your brain and block the blood flow to your brain”.5

African American Women

Are African American women at higher risk for stroke?

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

“Stroke is the third leading cause of death among African American women, and they are more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white women or Hispanics in the United States. African Americans have the highest rate of death due to stroke.

Almost half of African Americans have a risk factor that can lead to a stroke”.6

Common Symptoms

What are the most common symptoms of a stroke?

In Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs): What Are Common Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease? 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, loss of balance or coordination
  • Severe headache with no known cause; and
  • 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 vs Men: How Do I Know If I’m Having A Stroke? Additional Stroke Symptoms In Women the ASA Go Red for Women elaborate on:

“Women may report symptoms that are different from the common symptoms. They can include:

  • General weakness
  • Disorientation or confusion of 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 PressureHigh Blood Pressure and Stroke Prevention

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

In Stroke Risk Factors You Can Control, Treat and Improve: High Blood Pressure the ASA note:

“High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading cause of stroke and the most significant controllable risk factor. Know your numbers and keep them low. Manage HBP”.9

Common or Not

How common is stroke?

In the United States according to the CDC:

“Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious disability for adults. About 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year”.10

Women

In women, how common is stroke?

In Women and Stroke the CDC elaborate on:


“The lifetime risk of stroke for women between the ages of 55 and 75 in the United States is 1 in 5. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer does, making stroke the third leading cause of death for women.

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:

“The effects of a stroke depend on several factors, including the location of the obstruction and how much brain tissue is affected. However, because one side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body, a stroke affecting one side will result in neurological complications on the side of the body it affects”.12

WISEWOMAN

What is the (United States) WISEWOMAN program?

In WISEWOMAN the CDC elaborate on:

“The WISEWOMAN (Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation) program was created to help women understand and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke by providing services to promote lasting heart-healthy lifestyles. Working with low-income, uninsured and underinsured women aged 40 to 64 years, the program provides heart disease and stroke risk factor screenings and services that promote healthy behaviors”.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 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

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. 5 Critical Steps To Help Prevent A Stroke
  2. About Stroke
  3. African and African Caribbean Background
  4. American Stroke Association
  5. Answers By Heart Fact Sheets: Cardiovascular Conditions
  6. Aphasia and Stroke
  7. Ask Your Doctor How You Can Reduce Your Risk
  8. Avoiding Heart Attacks and Strokes [Booklet]: Read Our Publications In Different Languages
  9. Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke
  10. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)
  11. Cardiovascular Health
  12. Change Your Numbers. Change Your Life.
  13. Changes You Can Make To Manage High Blood Pressure
  14. Consumer Health: Recovering From A Stroke
  15. Consumer Health: Stroke Awareness
  16. Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States]
  17. Empoweredtoserve.org [EmPOWERED To Serve]
  18. Expert Alert: FAST Response Essential for Stroke
  19. Explaining Stroke: Booklet
  20. Facts About Stroke
  21. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women]
  22. Healthy Eating Helps Keep Your Brain Sharp
  23. Healthy Lifestyle
  24. Healthy Living
  25. Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms: Warnings Signs of Heart Attack, Stroke & Cardiac Arrest
  26. Heart Disease and Stroke
  27. Heart.org: Heart and Stroke News
  28. High Blood Pressure and Women
  29. Infographic: Phases of Stroke Care
  30. Is It Fatigue – or A Stroke? Women Shouldn’t Ignore These Signs
  31. Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act In Time.
  32. Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life
  33. Know Your Risk
  34. Learn More Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms
  35. Life After Stroke: A Way Forward
  36. Mayo Clinic Minute: African Americans At Higher Risk of Stroke [+ Video]
  37. Mayo Clinic Minute: Think ‘FAST’ To Recognize A Stroke [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  38. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Women Should Know About Stroke [+ Video]
  39. Mayo Clinic Minute: What You Need To Know About Stroke [+ Video]
  40. Millionhearts.hhs.gov
  41. Mindyourrisks.nih.gov [Mind Your Risks]
  42. My Life Check | Life’s Simple 7
  43. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  44. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: All Disorders
  45. Physical Activity Keeps Your Brain Sharp
  46. Preventing Stroke: Healthy Living
  47. Real Women
  48. Recipes [American Heart Association]
  49. Recipes for A Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
  50. Recovery After Stroke
  51. Reduce Your Risk of Stroke
  52. Risk Factors
  53. Risk Factors Under Your Control
  54. South Asian Background
  55. State, Local, and Tribal Heart Disease and Stroke Programs [United States]
  56. Stroke
  57. Stroke
  58. Stroke Learn the Signs of Stroke
  59. Stroke
  60. Stroke
  61. Stroke
  62. Stroke
  63. Stroke
  64. Stroke Information In Other Languages
  65. Stroke Information Page
  66. Stroke Risk Factors
  67. Stroke Risk Factors You Can Control, Treat and Improve
  68. Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms
  69. Stroke Symptoms: F A S T
  70. Stroke and Women
  71. Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms
  72. Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms: What Is A Stroke [+ Video]
  73. Stroke – Multiply Languages
  74. Stroke.org [National Stroke Association, United States]
  75. Stroke.org.uk  [Stroke Association, United Kingdom]
  76. Stroke: Overview [Video Interview Stories]
  77. Stroke: Profiles – Age 46-55 [Video Interview Stories]
  78. Stroke: Profiles – Age 56-65 [Video Interview Stories]
  79. Stroke: What Is A Stroke?
  80. Stroke: What You Need To Know
  81. Strokefoundation.org.au
  82. Strokes May Lead to Epilepsy
  83. TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)
  84. TIA and Minor Stroke: Overview [Video Interview Stories]
  85. Types of Stroke [+ Video]
  86. Types of Stroke and Treatment
  87. WISEWOMAN
  88. Watch, Learn and Live: Hemorrhagic Stroke
  89. Watch, Learn and Live: Ischemic Stroke
  90. Watch, Learn and Live: Transient Ischemic Attack
  91. What Is A Stroke?
  92. What Is Brain Health?
  93. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
  94. Women Have A Higher Risk of Stroke
  95. World Heart Day 29 September Stroke
  96. World Stroke Day Is Oct 29th
  97. World Stroke Day October 29th Stroke
  98. World-stroke.org [World Stroke Organization]
  99. Yourethecure.org

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Women and Stroke. Page Last Reviewed: 06 May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/women.htm Accessed: 18 May 2021
  2. About Stroke: What Is Stroke? American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke Accessed: 18 May 2021
  3. About Stroke. Page Last Reviewed: 31 January 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about.htm Accessed: 18 May 2021
  4. Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms: What Increases My Chance of Having A Stroke? Page Last Reviewed: November 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/stroke Accessed: 18 May 2021
  5. Stroke – Causes, Signs & Symptoms: What Increases My Chance of Having A Stroke? Page Last Reviewed: November 2019. British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/stroke Accessed: 18 May 2021
  6. Women and Stroke: Why Are African American Women At Higher Risk for Stroke? Page Last Reviewed: 06 May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/women.htm Accessed: 18 May 2021
  7. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD): What Are Common Symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease? 17 May 2017. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) Accessed: 18 May 2021
  8. Symptoms of a Stroke In Women vs Men: How Do I Know If I’m Having A Stroke? Additional Stroke Symptoms In Women. Last Reviewed: 15 December 2020. American Stroke Association https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/signs-and-symptoms-in-women/symptoms-of-a-stroke Accessed: 18 May 2021
  9. Stroke Risk Factors You Can Control, Treat and Improve: High Blood Pressure. Last Reviewed: 10 October 2018. American Stroke Association https://www.strokeassociation.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/stroke-risk-factors-you-can-control-treat-and-improve Accessed: 18 May 2021
  10. Stroke. Page Last Reviewed: 03 May 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/ Accessed: 18 May 2021
  11. Women and Stroke. Page Last Reviewed: 05 August 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/women.htm Accessed: 18 May 2021
  12. Effects of Stroke. American Stroke Association https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/effects-of-stroke Accessed: 18 May 2021
  13. WISEWOMAN. Page Last Reviewed: 10 February 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/index.htm Accessed: 18 May 2021
  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: 18 May 2021

Topic Last Updated: 16 September 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 May 2021
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