home
RSS
Stroke: Knowing the warning signs in women
February 6th, 2014
04:03 PM ET

Stroke: Knowing the warning signs in women

It wasn't supposed to happen to her. Just 32 and pregnant, Holly Carson woke with a crushing headache.

"It was ... like if somebody had a baseball bat taken to (my) head," says Carson.  Having some medical training, she immediately suspected she was having a stroke.

At 26, med student Lauren Barnes' migraine took a turn for the worse. Then, "I had a rush of pins and needles sensation and tingling throughout the entire right side of my body," she says.

Stroke isn't just for the elderly, as Carson and Barnes can attest.  Scientists have known for some time that women have some risk factors for stroke that are unique to them and others that are more commonly seen in women than men.

To make women more aware, the American Heart Association released the first guidelines for the prevention of stroke in women on Thursday. "Prevention can start when women are very young, during childbearing years," says Dr. Cheryl Bushnell, chair of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association writing group and an associate professor of neurology and stroke director at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Awareness is key, because when it comes to strokes, "time lost is brain lost," according to the AHA.

Stroke 101
A stroke is often referred to as a brain attack because, like a heart attack, it's usually caused by a clot blocking blood flow in a vessel. With stroke the blockage is in the brain, and without "food" the affected area starts to die. A small percentage of strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain from a ruptured blood vessel instead of a blockage.

Stroke recommendations unique to women:

Women have certain stroke risk factors that are unique to their sex such as pregnancy, blood pressure disorders brought on by pregnancy, oral contraceptives and postmenopausal hormone use.  Many of the new guidelines focus on managing blood pressure, one of the best ways to help prevent stroke.

- High blood pressure before pregnancy
If a woman wanting to start a family has high blood pressure, it's recommended that she be considered for low-dose aspirin and possibly calcium supplements to lower the risk for blood pressure disorders during pregnancy.

- High blood pressure during pregnancy
If a pregnant woman is suffering from moderately high blood pressure, the new guidelines suggest she talk to her doctor about possible treatment. If blood pressure numbers continue to climb, women should get treated with safe and effective medicines. Some hypertension drugs are known to be dangerous to a mother-to-be and child, so consult with your doctor.  After delivery, moms should continue to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

- History of preeclampsia
After getting pregnant, some women develop high blood pressure along with high protein in the urine. This disorder is called preeclampsia and between 3% to 8% of pregnancies in the United States are affected. Experts aren't sure of its cause but know it increases the chance of stroke during pregnancy and long after the baby is born. Having preeclampsia doubles the risk of stroke and quadruples the risk for high blood pressure later in life.

Because of these concerns, the new guidelines urge doctors and patients to take this condition seriously, not only by routinely monitoring blood pressure during the childbearing years and beyond, but treating other lifestyle problems early as well such as smoking, high cholesterol and obesity.

- Birth control pills 
Women should be screened for high blood pressure before taking birth control pills because the combination can double the risk for stroke. If you smoke, don't take the Pill, because it also increases the likelihood of stroke.

- Hormone replacement therapy
For years doctors thought hormone replacement therapy after menopause would protect women from heart disease and stroke. That's been questioned for a decade now.  These new guidelines clearly state: "Hormone replacement therapy should not be used to prevent stroke in postmenopausal women."

Risk factors more common in women:
The new guidelines also highlight health issues that are more common in women than men, such as migraines with aura (distortions in vision and hearing) and atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat.

- Migraines with aura
Women are four times more likely to have migraines than men. Rarely do they lead to stroke, but migraines with aura may be different, especially in women who also smoke. The new recommendations suggest "smokers who have migraines with aura should quit to avoid higher stroke risk."

- Irregular heartbeat
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat in the upper heart chambers and is much more common in the elderly.  The condition quadruples stroke risk and is more common in women than men after age 75, which is why the AHA/ASA recommend all women over age 75 get screened for this arrhythmia.

Diabetes, depression, and emotional stress are additional stroke risk factors more common in women than men, but because treatment options are similar between the sexes, there are no new recommendations in the stroke guidelines.

Carson and Barnes are doing well today because they both recognized the signs of stroke and got help right away. A quick way to learn the warning signs is by remembering F.A.S.T.
F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911

Stroke can also cause numbness in the face, arms and legs, especially on one side, problems with walking and balance, sudden confusions and problems with understanding, vision problems in one or both eyes and a sudden headache with possible vomiting.

Barnes has recovered completely and continues medical school. Carson delivered a healthy baby, but despite rehab still has some limitations. She has little use of her left arm and hand and when people stop to ask her about it she tells them her story and talks about the warning signs.

"I've allowed this to be a living message for others. A stoke didn't ruin my life - it changed it," Carson says.

 Post by:
Filed under: Conditions • Living Well • Stroke • Women's Health
Next entry »
« Previous entry
soundoff (752 Responses)
  1. Son Semasko

    I don't know about you people but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff I don't know about you guys but I love airplanes. I had a friend in highschool that loved airplanes, so here are some airplane related stuff https://www.airlinereporter.com/2009/10/things-with-wings-strange-but-true-aviation-news/

    http://urlm.co/g/c/f/163870

    May 22, 2021 at 02:42 | Report abuse | Reply
  2. chloroquineorigin

    aralen https://chloroquineorigin.com/ hydroxychloroquine plaquenil hydroxychloroquine raoult coronavirus

    May 22, 2021 at 03:10 | Report abuse | Reply
  3. 먹튀검증

    This is a topic that's near to my heart... Cheers! Where are your contact details though?

    http://dirstop.com/submit

    May 22, 2021 at 05:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  4. 토토사이트

    I absolutely love your site.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you build this site yourself? Please reply back as Iím attempting to create my very own website and would like to find out where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Kudos!

    https://socialmphl.com/story9310439/betting-addiction-symptoms-and-treatment

    May 22, 2021 at 09:03 | Report abuse | Reply
  5. 먹튀검증

    Hi, I do think this is an excellent blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may revisit yet again since i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

    http://mediajx.com/story9775139/internet-casino-stress

    May 22, 2021 at 11:03 | Report abuse | Reply
  6. url

    I like the manner you have actually ended this post ...

    https://loafcrowd3.bravejournal.net/post/2021/05/22/Cheap-Fitness-Equipment-How-To-Find-The-Best-Equipment-At-The-Lowest-Price

    May 22, 2021 at 11:28 | Report abuse | Reply
  7. slot online

    Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and
    wanted to say that I've truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.

    After all I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

    May 22, 2021 at 12:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  8. 사설토토

    This is a topic that's near to my heart... Take care! Exactly where are your contact details though?

    http://gambling6franciscojqcj586.simplesite.com/448970896

    May 22, 2021 at 20:35 | Report abuse | Reply
  9. hướng dẫn chơi cá độ bóng đá

    Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really know what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally talk over with my web site =). We could have a link alternate arrangement between us!

    https://cse.google.com.na/url?q=https://vaoloto188.com/loto188-bi-sap/

    May 22, 2021 at 21:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  10. shredder grates

    There is a large difference between stainless-steel and also chrome

    https://www.cheaperseeker.com/u/aniyahyrose

    May 23, 2021 at 02:19 | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Jude Mchardy

    Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you would like to see more you can see these Second Life authors and blogs

    http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2017/04/spanish-language-edition-of-of-new.html?showComment=1552083096881&m=0

    May 23, 2021 at 04:34 | Report abuse | Reply
  12. 출장홈케어

    Tremendous issues here. I'm very happy to peer your article.

    Thanks so much and I'm looking ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

    May 23, 2021 at 11:16 | Report abuse | Reply
  13. cyclomune

    cyclosporine medication cyclosporine lab tube

    May 23, 2021 at 15:40 | Report abuse | Reply
  14. Tembepteriope

    where to buy cialis without prescription where to buy tadalafil on line buy cialis pills best price usa tadalafil https://cttadalafil.com/ – cheap cialis pills for sale

    May 24, 2021 at 03:27 | Report abuse | Reply
  15. Thanh Babick

    I've a WordPress blog with Arras theme. This site strangely shows different on different computers. On some computers, I see all 3 columsn, on other PC, I see only 1. On other PCs, some wiered things. Please somebody help me..

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmkowalsky/

    May 24, 2021 at 16:02 | Report abuse | Reply
  16. 출장마사지

    This website was... how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I've found something that helped me. Thanks a lot!

    http://juntendo-english.jp/forums/user/i9uyeor926/

    May 25, 2021 at 08:38 | Report abuse | Reply
  17. vbcash88

    Hi it's me, I am also visiting this site daily, this web page is in fact fastidious
    and the users are genuinely sharing pleasant thoughts.

    May 25, 2021 at 16:00 | Report abuse | Reply
  18. 출장안마

    Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am having troubles with your RSS. I donít understand the reason why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody else getting the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

    http://lida-stan.by/user/archerrisk1/

    May 25, 2021 at 16:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  19. brimonidine

    brimonidine side effects generic brimonidine

    May 25, 2021 at 19:24 | Report abuse | Reply
  20. forex

    Great items from you, man. I've keep in mind your stuff previous to and you're just too wonderful.
    I actually like what you've acquired here, certainly like what you're stating and the way by which you say it.
    You make it entertaining and you still care for to
    stay it wise. I can't wait to read far more from you.
    This is actually a tremendous web site.

    May 25, 2021 at 21:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  21. 출장안마

    Great site you've got here.. Itís difficult to find quality writing like yours these days. I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

    https://forum.bigant.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=54428

    May 26, 2021 at 01:59 | Report abuse | Reply
  22. พีจีสล็อต

    เกมสล็อต 3 มิติ ให้คุณเลือกเล่นอย่างจุใจ พร้อมความสนุกสนานรวมทั้งความท้าทายใหม่ๆที่คอยให้ท่านเข้ามาสัมผัสประสบการณ์สุดเจ๋งกับเกมยิงปลา แข่งม้า และก็อื่นๆแบบจัดเต็มแล้วก็อีกนานัปการความเบิกบานใจระดับพรีเมียม พร้อมให้ท่านบันเทิงใจจนไม่อยากพลาดจากหน้าจอโทรศัพท์มือถือ ตอบปัญหาทุกไลฟ์สไตล์ของคนทุกกลุ่ม ไม่ว่าจะอยู่ที่แหน่งใดก็สามารถทำเงินได้ทุกขณะ
    ทุกสถานที่ แล้วก็ที่สำคัญแจ็กพอเพียงตแตกทุกเมื่อเชื่อวัน คุณอาจเป็นเยี่ยมในผู้โชคดีคนถัดไป

    May 26, 2021 at 05:30 | Report abuse | Reply
  23. 출장안마

    bookmarked!!, I love your site!

    https://classifiedsgulf.com/user/profile/20742

    May 26, 2021 at 07:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  24. 출장마사지

    Having read this I believed it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

    https://humanlove.stream/wiki/How_to_Gain_From_Sports_Massage_Or_Sports_Remedy

    May 26, 2021 at 11:27 | Report abuse | Reply
  25. 출장 마사지

    Hi there! I could have sworn Iíve been to this website before but after going through many of the articles I realized itís new to me. Anyways, Iím definitely pleased I discovered it and Iíll be bookmarking it and checking back often!

    http://uzmuz.tv/go.php?url=https://soulanma.com/

    May 27, 2021 at 05:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  26. view

    Just bookmarked this article as I have found it quite helpful.

    https://blogfreely.net/sportingpacket88/what-are-the-best-stand-up-paddle-boards-for-kids

    May 27, 2021 at 06:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  27. 출장 마사지

    The next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn't fail me as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, however I truly thought you'd have something useful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could possibly fix if you were not too busy looking for attention.

    http://night.jp/jump.php?url=https://www.awwwards.com/n1wimwb024/

    May 27, 2021 at 07:59 | Report abuse | Reply
  28. how to use a vaporizer

    Bong Coasters & Bong Pads dab straws We have secure servers and exchange zero customer information. The glass storage jar has 2.5 mm thick sides and a super thick 7 mm bottom. The glass has to be made to exact dimensions in order to for all the pieces to fit together correctly. .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/products/nano-ii-wax-vape-pen

    May 27, 2021 at 10:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  29. haven smoke shop

    Bong Coasters & Bong Pads ash catcher for bongs A one hitter dugout is one of the simplest ways to smoke legal herbs on the market. So while they are extremely convenient to use, the disadvantage is that it holds a relatively small amount of weed and needs to be refilled all the time if you tend to smoke frequently .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/collections/honey-straw

    May 27, 2021 at 10:18 | Report abuse | Reply
  30. what's the difference between a vaporizer and a humidifier

    Dab Pads & Silicone Mats nectar collectar We have secure servers and exchange zero customer information. The glass storage jar has 2.5 mm thick sides and a super thick 7 milimet bottom. The glass has to be made to exact dimensions in order to for all the pieces to fit together correctly. .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/collections/nectar-collector

    May 27, 2021 at 10:24 | Report abuse | Reply
  31. glass bowl sinks

    Bong Coasters & Bong Pads glass nectar collector We have secure servers and exchange zero customer information. The glass storage jar has 2.5 mm thick sides and a super thick 7 milimet bottom. The glass has to be made to exact dimensions in order to for all the pieces to fit together correctly. .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/collections/wax-pen

    May 27, 2021 at 10:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  32. this

    Very few writers with appropriate understanding of the subjects they discuss.

    https://www.posts123.com/post/2111313/do-vibration-plates-work-for-regular-cardio

    May 27, 2021 at 19:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  33. windows vps hosting

    I have been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article
    like yours. It's pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion,
    if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
    the web will be much more useful than ever before.

    May 27, 2021 at 20:36 | Report abuse | Reply
  34. PG106

    Greetings I am so thrilled I found your web site,
    I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Bing for something else, Anyhow I am here now
    and would just like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time
    to look over it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be
    back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

    May 28, 2021 at 02:11 | Report abuse | Reply
  35. Kamilah Sticher

    Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is essentially a video game where you can do anything you want. SL is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs

    http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2007/05/second-life-as-machinima-affinity-space.html

    May 28, 2021 at 05:20 | Report abuse | Reply
  36. itubolawd Bandar Bola Tangkas Online Terpercaya

    Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site?
    The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

    May 28, 2021 at 06:10 | Report abuse | Reply
  37. 출장 안마

    You should be a part of a contest for one of the finest websites on the web. I most certainly will recommend this site!

    http://www.pageglimpse.com/external/ext.aspx?url=https://anma9martinudoq377.mozello.com/blog/params/post/2829682/where-will-be-1-year-from-now

    May 28, 2021 at 10:59 | Report abuse | Reply
  38. 출장마사지

    I was able to find good advice from your blog articles.

    http://wx.lt/redirect.php?url=http://massage8machilhykx.wpsuo.com/15-tips-about-chuljangmasaji-from-industry-experts

    May 28, 2021 at 16:31 | Report abuse | Reply
  39. cheap wax pen

    Pad Dab Flashcards silicone pipe with glass bowl A one hitter dugout is one of the simplest ways to smoke legal herbs on the market. So while they are extremely convenient to use, the disadvantage is that it holds a relatively small amount of weed and needs to be refilled all the time if you tend to smoke frequently .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/collections/wax-pen

    May 28, 2021 at 18:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  40. best e cigarette vaporizer

    Dab Pads & Silicone Mats one hitter pipe A one hitter dugout is one of the simplest ways to smoke legal herbs on the market. So while they are extremely convenient to use, the disadvantage is that it holds a relatively small amount of weed and needs to be refilled all the time if you tend to smoke frequently .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/products/11inches-double-matrix-perc-dab-rig

    May 28, 2021 at 18:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  41. butane lighter torch

    Dab Mat weed grinder price We have secure servers and exchange zero customer information. The glass storage jar has 2.5 mm thick sides and a super thick 7 mm bottom. The glass has to be made to exact dimensions in order to for all the pieces to fit together correctly. .

    https://pilotdiarystore.com/products/nectar-collector-quartz-tip

    May 28, 2021 at 18:49 | Report abuse | Reply
  42. Paulita Swainey

    https://radiopublic.com/tech-reviews-and-tutorials-with-t-WYqBkV

    https://www.breaker.audio/tech-reviews-and-tutorials-with-techstat-dot-net

    May 28, 2021 at 19:07 | Report abuse | Reply
  43. 출장 마사지

    I want to to thank you for this good read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have got you book marked to look at new things you postÖ

    http://maple.linppt.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=1198159

    May 29, 2021 at 04:25 | Report abuse | Reply
  44. Tilda Naud

    Have you ever heard of second life (sl for short). It is basically a video game where you can do anything you want. sl is literally my second life (pun intended lol). If you want to see more you can see these sl websites and blogs

    http://everydayliteracies.blogspot.com/2013/04/?m=0

    May 29, 2021 at 05:55 | Report abuse | Reply
  45. 케이출장

    After looking into a few of the blog posts on your website, I really like your way of blogging. I saved it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my web site as well and tell me your opinion.

    https://mintjasia.com/members/anma7lungepoch7/activity/166373/

    May 29, 2021 at 12:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  46. More about the author

    Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I'm kinda paranoid about losing everything I've worked hard on. Any recommendations?|

    https://anotepad.com/notes/3edbgbar

    May 29, 2021 at 13:32 | Report abuse | Reply
  47. 출장안마

    Hello there! This article couldnít be written much better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I most certainly will send this article to him. Pretty sure he'll have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

    https://www.openlearning.com/u/airspot36/blog/CareForPetsAnAlternativeWayToRelaxYourPet

    May 29, 2021 at 13:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  48. 출장마사지

    I blog quite often and I really appreciate your information. This article has truly peaked my interest. I'm going to take a note of your site and keep checking for new information about once per week. I opted in for your Feed too.

    https://pastebin.fun/B9jTxrs1Ky

    May 29, 2021 at 21:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  49. 출장 마사지

    Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am encountering difficulties with your RSS. I donít understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting similar RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

    https://peatix.com/user/8007622/view

    May 29, 2021 at 21:58 | Report abuse | Reply
  50. 사설토토

    Wonderful article! We are linking to this particularly great content on our site. Keep up the great writing.

    https://diigo.com/0k1ku3

    May 30, 2021 at 04:18 | Report abuse | Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Leave a Reply to https://w88vn.biz/

Click here to cancel reply.

 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Next entry »
« Previous entry
Advertisement
About this blog

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.