Every year brings too many stroke victims. Current statistics predict that this year 800,000 Americans will experience a stroke. Typically, symptoms include sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of the body, loss of vision, difficulty articulating words and often, coordination problems. Actually, those are typical symptoms for men, but women may present with entirely different complaints or problems. Doctors and experts say that a woman having a stroke may have confusion, disorientation or loss of consciousness. Since delay in treatment can mean permanent impairment, or even death, identifying these symptoms and connecting them to a diagnosis of stroke can be life-saving.
There is an ongoing effort to change public awareness regarding these atypical stroke symptoms in women, by changing public health campaigns. Researchers are still unclear as to why women symptoms differ dramatically from men. When a stroke is caused by an actual clot, tPA or tissue plasminogen activator should be administered within 3 hours of the onset of the stroke for maximal clot busting results. A delay in recognizing a stroke can result in significant permanent loss of function and permanent disability. Women also seem to spend more time in hospitals recovering from stroke, when compared to their male counterparts. They have a much lower incidence of undergoing head imaging diagnostics and a 30% lower chance of receiving tPA therapy. If you experience: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg; sudden confusion; sudden trouble speaking; sudden difficulty understanding something being said to you; sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance; sudden severe headache for unknown reason, then call 9-1-1 and seek medical help immediately.
Reduce your risk of stroke by quitting smoking, improving your cholesterol profile, losing excess weight, taking blood pressure medication if you have hypertension, reducing alcohol intake, being active, and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, plant based protein, healthy fats, fat free dairy products and whole grains.
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