Midlife Stroke Surge Among Women
Middle aged women are twice as likely as middle aged men to suffer a stroke. But knowledge and prevention just might be the keys to reducing that risk.
Research shows that women in the 45-54 age range are 2.5 times as likely as men to have a stroke. For ages below (35-44) and higher (55-64) that range, the gender difference is much narrower, with the stroke risks being almost equal.
During middle age, women's blood pressure and total cholesterol levels rise faster than men's, placing them at greater risk for stroke. But women receive less preventive care for stroke than men. That in turn may make them less aware or unconcerned about their increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and stroke risk factors such as heart disease and waist circumference.
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Some risk factors are the same for men and women:
• Family history of stroke
• High blood pressure (consistently above 120/80)
• High cholesterol (above 200 total)
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Being overweight
• Not exercising
• Circulation problems
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) - an irregular heartbeat that changes how your heart works and allows blood to collect in the chambers of your heart.
• Fatty deposits - caused by atherosclerosis (a hardening or buildup of cholesterol plaque and other fatty deposits in the arteries) or other diseases
Other risks are unique to women:
• Hormonal changes such as being pregnant, taking birth control pills, loss of estrogen through menopause, and using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a combined hormone therapy of progestin and estrogen, to relieve menopausal symptoms
• Having a thick waist and high triglyceride (blood fat) level; post-menopausal women with a waist size larger than 35.2 inches and a triglyceride level higher than 128 milligrams per liter may have a five-fold increased risk for stroke
• Being a migraine headache sufferer; migraines can increase a woman's stroke risk 3-6 times, and most Americans who suffer migraines are women
Twice as many women die of stroke than breast cancer every year. In fact, stroke is the third leading cause of death among women in the U.S.., and shares many risk factors with heart disease, the leader. Stroke is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. But the good news is that up to 80% of strokes are preventable.
There are several lifestyle changes that can significantly lower your stroke risk:
• Prevent and control high blood cholesterol
• Prevent and control high blood pressure
• Prevent and control diabetes
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Consume a healthy, Mediterranean diet
• Don't smoke, and drink in moderation
There are also certain natural compounds and nutrients that have been shown to help regulate blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and support a healthy cardiovascular system.
• Drinking three or more cups of green or black tea a day may reduce the risk of stroke by 21%. And, the more you drink, the greater the cuts in stroke risk.
• Increase potassium and magnesium. Both help reduce blood pressure, and studies suggest that low blood levels of magnesium may increase the risk of stroke by 25%.
• Bananas not only contain potassium, but also contain a compound that acts as a natural ACE inhibitor or blocker
• Polyphenols, found in foods such as olive oil, grapes, coffee and chocolate, help lower blood pressure.
• Soy has been found to reduce the risk of stroke, and a 2008 study on isoflavones (found in soy) indicated that they make stroke patients' arteries work better.
• Garlic/garlic extract helps thin the blood and maintain healthy blood flow.
• Grape seed and grape skin extract prevent abnormal clotting of the blood.
• Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to, decrease triglycerides, lower blood pressure, reduce blood clotting and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
• B vitamins and betaine help maintain low levels of the harmful chemical homocysteine, which has been linked to increased stroke risk.
• Nutrients to support general cardiovascular health. For more information, read Nutrients Your Heart Will Love .
If you are a middle-aged woman, know that you can fight the "surge" trend and lower your risk of stroke by taking action now!
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