Stroke – a disease that occurs when the brain does not get the blood and oxygen it needs in order to function, is among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Strokes affect women more than men, and risk factors and symptoms present differently between the sexes. While high blood pressure and smoking increase both men and women’s risk of stroke, pregnancy, lupus, migraine headaches, birth control pills, and hormone replacement therapy are risk factors unique to women. There are also certain stroke symptoms that are only seen in women. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke can help you or your loved one seek care in a timely manner.
Symptoms seen in both men and women:
- Numbness or weakness of the arm, face, or leg on one side of the body
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Dizziness, loss of coordination
- Severe headache without known cause
- Sudden face and limb pain
- Sudden hiccups, nausea, general weakness
- Sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations
- Altered mental status, meaning disorientation, confusion, or hallucination