HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · MAY 2018
GENDER PUTS WOMEN MORE AT RISK FOR STROKE
WHEN 30-YEAR-OLD SHEILA STEPHENSON OF RAYMONDVILLE , TEXAS , FIRST FELT A LITTLE DIZZY , SHE WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REASON . SHE HAD JUST WOKEN UP TO START HER DAY IN NEW ORLEANS WHILE ON A FAMILY WEEKEND GETAWAY . BUT WHEN HER SPEECH BECAME IMPAIRED , SHE KNEW IT WAS SERIOUS . HER HUSBAND QUICKLY DROVE HER TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL .
Once admitted , Stephenson was told that she had a stroke .
In the battle of the sexes , here ’ s one that women like Stephenson – often unknowingly – take the lead in : About 55,000 more women than men have strokes every year . Strokes kill more women than men annually , making it the # 3 leading cause of death in women . In Texas , 48,103 women have suffered from strokes in the past eight years according to the Texas Department of State Health Services , 2017 Annual Report .
“ I knew I wasn ’ t at my desired weight , but I always tried to stay active by being involved in sports ,” Stephenson says . “ To say I was surprised about having a stroke is an understatement . I never thought that could happen to me .”
Gender misconception about strokes is common , according to Dr . Juan Asuaje , Medical Director of Weslaco Regional Rehabilitation Hospital . “ Most people don ’ t realize that women suffer strokes more frequently than men ,” he says . “ If you ’ re a woman , you share a lot of the same risk factors for strokes as a man , but a woman ’ s risk also is influenced by hormones , reproductive health , pregnancy , child-birth and other gender-related factors .”
For example , birth control pills may double the risk of stroke , especially in women with high blood pressure or who smoke . And , according to the American Heart Association , hormone replacement therapy – once thought to reduce stroke risk – in fact , actually increases it .
A recent study shared through the National Stroke Association listed these factors that have been found to increase stroke risk in women :
• Menstruation before the age of 10
• Menopause before age 45
• Low levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEAS )
• Taking oral estrogen or combined oral contraceptives
The study also showed a history of pregnancy complications can also indicate higher stroke risk . These problems include gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during or immediately after pregnancy .
“ Add this to other general risk factors for stroke like family history , high blood pressure , diabetes , high cholesterol , smoking , lack of exercise , and being overweight – and it becomes clearer as to why women can be more at risk for stroke than men ,” Asuaje says .
For Stephenson , being aware of her symptoms helped her get the care she needed quickly , which ultimately aided in her recovery . After being treated at a Louisiana hospital for initial stroke care , she was transferred to Weslaco Regional Rehabilitation Hospital where she spent two weeks receiving rehabilitation to help her recover , which included daily physical , occupational , and speech therapy .
“ It was amazing ,” she says . “ I went into the rehabilitation hospital in a wheelchair , not able to walk , talk , or eat . It was really frightening . Then two weeks later , I could not only talk and eat , but I walked out of the hospital – with the staff and my family surrounding me and cheering for me as I did it .”
Stephenson says she now knows more about strokes and will share the information she has learned with others . She is now a runner and tries to join 5K events . She says she is more conscious about her health and does the 5K events because “ she can .” “ I ’ m blessed to be alive and be able to move ,” she says .
“ Whatever stage of life a woman is in , it ’ s important that she be aware of all the risk factors of stroke ,” Asuaje says .
“ As it ’ s often said , ‘ knowledge is power .’ And in this case , the more knowledgeable a woman is about her stroke risk factors , the more she ’ ll be able to understand how she can be affected and work with her physician or healthcare provider as appropriate to reduce them .”
30 HEALTHY MAGAZINE