Did you know that strokes are the leading cause of preventable death for both men and women in the US?
The CDC has recently documented that one-fourth of all heart attacks and stroke-related deaths are preventable.
Do you know the warning signs?
According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 women, only 51 percent recognized that sudden weakness or numbness of the face or limbs might signal the onset of a stroke. Even more alarming is less than half were aware that loss of speech was a sign. Even fewer – less than a quarter of the women surveyed – recognized that sudden severe headaches, unexplained dizziness or loss of vision could indicate a person was experiencing a stroke.
What are high-risk categories for women and factors increasing your chances for a stroke?
Risk Factors
Overweight/Obesity
It is estimated that 86% of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2030.
Obesity, defined as a body mass or BMI of 30 or greater, is another risk factor of stroke and increases as BMI increases – the larger your waist circumference, the greater your chances of having a stroke.
Weight problems affect both men and women; however, there is a higher chance of stroke in women. Abdominal obesity is more problematic for postmenopausal women. Carrying excess abdominal weight increases your chance of developing insulin resistance, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease more so than fat distribution in other areas of the body. Post-menopausal women with a waist measurement larger than 35.2 inches and a triglyceride level higher than 128 milligrams per liter may have up to a five times greater risk of stroke.
Overweight individuals can lower their risk of stroke by doing the following:
• Lose weight
• Follow a Mediterranean-type or Dash diet
• Eat foods low in saturated fat
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
• Exercise or be more active
• Consider surgical weight loss options
Calculate Your BMI
If your weight is placing you at greater risk for stroke and high blood pressure, and you have unsuccessfully tried losing weight through conventional means, then weight loss surgery may be right for you. Dr. Ken Hollis at BayChoice Bariatric & Digestive Center specializes in bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) for morbidly obese patients. To find out if your BMI is placing you at greater risk, please take advantage of our BMI calculator.
High Blood Pressure, or Hypertension
Did you know that approximately 75% of post-menopausal women over the age of 60 have high blood pressure? While women typically have lower blood pressure for most of their lives, it changes as women go through menopause. Since women live longer than men, strokes affect them more.
Even those with mild hypertension can be at risk. Often people don’t have any symptoms with systolic blood pressures of 160-170 and they fail to get checked… going untreated can be a costly and potentially fatal oversight.
Atrial Fibrillation or AFib
Atrial Fibrillation or AFib can be another risk factor causing the heart’s two small upper chambers (the atria) to quiver versus beating normally. This impacts the heart and body by not allowing the blood to be pumped effectively, causing blood to pool and clot. As a result, these clots can be pumped into the brain resulting in a stroke or ischemic stroke. The incidence of Afib is not known to be greater in women or men; however, it does increase with age with women over age 75 making up about 60%. Symptoms for Afib are not always apparent, with some people never experiencing the classic ones such as shortness of breath or a racing heartbeat. For these individuals, a home monitor is usually prescribed for diagnosis.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women are at greater risk for stroke than those who are not pregnant. One reason for this is associated with a condition during pregnancy called, Preeclampsia. This is a complication which can cause increased blood pressure and protein in the urine. There are no symptoms associated with this condition and it must be diagnosed by a physician. Even many years later, women who have had preeclampsia during pregnancy have double the stroke risk of women who did not. Therefore the risk does not end after the birth of the child.
History of Miscarriages
Having a history of miscarriages is beginning to be linked to an increase in stroke risk, which is possibly related to undiagnosed clotting disorders. A warning sign can be multiple and recurring miscarriages. Being placed on an aspirin regimen or other anticoagulant should be considered. Overall, clotting conditions are seen more often in women than men and may be related to estrogen.
It is important to recognize stroke symptoms and act quickly. Reacting quickly can lessen the chances for permanent damage or death.
The National Stroke Association recommends the following guidelines with specific ones relating to women:
Common stroke symptoms seen in both men and women:- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Women may report unique stroke symptoms:
- Sudden face and limb pain
- Sudden hiccups
- Sudden nausea
- Sudden general weakness
- Sudden chest pain
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Sudden palpitations
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these symptoms
Every minute counts for stroke patients and acting F.A.S.T. can lead patients to the stroke treatments they desperately need. The most effective stroke treatments are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within the first three hours of the first symptoms. Many Americans are not aware that stroke patients may not be eligible for stroke treatments if they arrive at the hospital after the three-hour window.
If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:
F—FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
NOTE THE TIME WHEN ANY SYMPTOMS FIRST APPEAR. If given within three hours of the first symptom, there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.
Learn as many stroke symptoms as possible so you can recognize stroke as FAST as possible. For more information about how BayChoice Bariatric Center can help you in the fight against obesity, please contact Dr. Kenneth Hollis today at 281-482-5300.
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