Stroke ranks as a leading cause of death worldwide, with its impact differing significantly between men and women. In the United States, stroke stands as the third-leading cause of death for women, compared to the fifth for men.
This disparity points to a pressing public health concern, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of stroke risks unique to women.
Parneet Grewal, M.D., a specialist in vascular neurology at MUSC, and the senior author of a review article in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, highlights the urgent need to bridge the knowledge gap in this area.
Grewal’s work underlines the complexity of stroke risk in women, which cannot be solely attributed to their longer lifespans.
Strokes come in two main types: ischemic, caused by blood clots or debris blocking vessels leading to the brain, and hemorrhagic, resulting from blood vessels in the brain bursting or leaking.
Both types deprive the brain of necessary oxygen and nutrients, but they present unique challenges in prevention and treatment.
Through their research, Grewal and her team have identified distinct patterns in stroke risk factors between genders. While hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol are recognized risk factors for everyone, these conditions often pose a greater stroke risk to women as they age.
Interestingly, women seem more vulnerable to high blood pressure, the most significant changeable risk factor for stroke. A 2019 study revealed that women’s risk of ischemic stroke escalates more with rising blood pressure levels compared to men.
Factors such as the timing of puberty, early onset of menopause, pregnancy, and hormonal treatments further contribute to women’s elevated stroke risk. Grewal particularly notes the long-term stroke risk associated with pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorders.
Such conditions not only increase the risk during pregnancy but also indicate a higher likelihood of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases later in life.
Recognizing these unique risks, Grewal advocates for more personalized education and medical follow-up for women. By focusing on early detection and treatment, particularly for conditions experienced during pregnancy, healthcare providers can significantly improve outcomes for women.
Looking forward, Grewal is committed to applying this growing body of knowledge to enhance patient care and develop targeted stroke prevention strategies for women.
This approach promises a future where women’s specific health needs are more accurately addressed, potentially reducing the overall burden of stroke among women.
As the research team continues to explore the nuances of stroke risk factors, their ongoing work is crucial.
Delving into nontraditional causes of stroke and how they affect women differently could pave the way for innovative prevention methods, ultimately saving lives and improving the quality of life for women at risk of this devastating condition.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
The research findings can be found in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.
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