February 18, 2014

Stroke Prevention for Women: New Guidelines from the AHA

Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in men, but the third leading cause in women – even though the risk factors are similar for both genders. New guidelines published by the American Heart Association focus on stroke prevention in women, who suffer strokes more often because of extra physical factors that don’t apply to men.

Stroke Factors for Women

Strokes happen when a blood clot develops in a blood vessel that leads to the brain, which deprives the brain of oxygen. Women are slightly more susceptible to having a stroke because of several additional factors. One factor is simply that women live longer than men, and stroke risk naturally increases with age. Another reason for the heightened risk in women is hormonal fluctuation, which is significant at all ages. Changes in the levels of reproductive hormones at various life stages affect a woman’s risk of stroke. For example, taking birth control pills at a young age and hormone replacement therapy at an older age. Pregnancy is also a factor because of conditions such as preeclampsia, or heightened blood pressure in pregnant women.

In addition to a higher risk of having a stroke in general, women are likely to face a slower and less successful recovery than men. They are also more likely to be institutionalized after suffering from this condition.

Guidelines from the AHA

The new guidelines from the American Heart Association focus on several major aspects of stroke prevention for women:

- Women with high blood pressure prior to pregnancy may benefit from low-dose aspirin or calcium supplements after the first trimester to reduce the risk of preeclampsia (severely high blood pressure during pregnancy). Preeclampsia remains a major risk factor for stroke even after pregnancy – women who suffer from preeclampsia are four times as likely to have high blood pressure later in life, and twice as likely to suffer a stroke. The AHA warns that doctors should consider preeclampsia as much of a stroke risk as smoking, obesity and high cholesterol.
- For women who have high blood pressure before pregnancy, the AHA recommends treatment with medication if possible (not all blood pressure medications are safe for use during pregnancy).
- Women who plan to take birth control pills should have their blood pressure tested before they start taking them. Contraception that contains hormones increases stroke risk on its own, even from a young age. When hormonal changes and existing high blood pressure combine, a woman’s risk becomes significantly higher.
- Migraines with aura have been linked to increased risk. Migraines with aura are characterized by additional symptoms such as blind spots, drastically decreased vision, extreme weakness, hallucinations, prickling skin, and seeing zigzag patterns or flashing lights. Women who suffer from this condition should take additional precautions to avoid other stroke risks such as smoking, high blood pressure and obesity.
- Atrial fibrillation may lead to higher risk of stroke. All women over the age of 75 should be screened for this condition as a preventative measure.
- Psychological stress and depression, which occur much more often in woman, are also associated with much higher risks. Women who suffer from psychological issues should take measures to relieve stress and alleviate depression. Check out our post on Natural Remedies for Depression for some great tips on how to fight depression without prescription drugs.

When it comes down to it, these new guidelines emphasize that women should talk to their doctors about prevention long before they’re at a high risk of having one. Blood pressure should be carefully monitored, especially during pregnancy. As you know, lifestyle changes can drastically decrease your risk right now. Exercise regularly, don’t smoke, and maintain a healthy diet. It does not matter if you’re 18 or 88 – every woman can begin fighting the risk of having a stroke right now.

Read the AHA’s Complete Guidelines Here:

American Heart Association: Guidelines for the Prevention of Stroke in Women

Forbes: A Woman’s Guide to Stroke Prevention