.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pregnancy
Researchers believe that a pregnant woman’s risk for stroke increases possibly due to the natural occurrences in the body during a normal pregnancy:
  • Elevation in blood pressure
  • Increased production of blood-clotting factors
  • Significant blood loss during delivery
    Increased stress on the heart
  • Additional blood volume in the second and third trimesters
Menopause/Hormone Replacement Therapy
As a woman ages and approaches menopause, her risk of stroke begins to rise. Studies have shown that the loss of natural estrogen in a woman’s body may contribute to a higher stroke risk.

Several studies have been conducted on the effects of hormone replacement therapy and stroke in women. Currently, researchers are unsure what effect replacement hormones have on a woman’s risk for stroke.

Women with one or more of these risk factors should discuss stroke risk and prevention strategies with their health care providers.
Taking Control of Stroke Risk
While women need to be aware of their stroke risks, it’s even more important to reduce those risks by implementing lifestyle changes and other measures.

National Stroke Association and its panel of medical experts published guidelines to help people prevent a first stroke. Seen as the gold standard in stroke prevention, these guidelines offer simple steps women can take each day to take control of their health.
  • Know your blood pressure. Have it checked at least annually. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to control it.
  • Find out if you have atrial fibrillation (AF). If you have AF, work with your doctor to manage it.
  • If you smoke, stop.
  • If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.
  • Know your cholesterol number. If it is high, work with your doctor to control it.
  • If you are diabetic, follow your doctor’s recommendations carefully to control your diabetes.
  • Include exercise in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine.
  • Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet.
  • Ask you doctor if you have circulation problems, which increase your risk for stroke. If so, work with your doctor to control them.
  • If you have any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Do You Know What a Stroke "Looks" Like?
Recognizing strokes when they occur
The first step to successfully responding to a stroke is recognizing stroke symptoms when they occur. In an NSA/Gallup poll, a majority of Americans over 50 could not name some of the most common stroke symptoms.

Recognizing strokes and treating them as medical emergencies are the key steps to preventing potential stroke-related disabilities.
Responding Correctly
Most strokes can be treated. Women need to have a keen awareness of their stroke risks and a thorough knowledge of stroke symptoms to get the treatment they need and deserve.

Studies have shown that women take 46 percent longer than men to get to the emergency room after stroke symptoms begin. They can also wait up to 49 percent longer to receive medical attention once they arrive at the hospital. Women must empower themselves and their loved ones to respond immediately to stroke and get emergency medical attention.

Treatments
 The only FDA-approved treatment for clot-caused stroke is t-PA, a drug that dissolves the blood clot and restores blood flow to the brain. The treatment must be given within three hours of the first signs of stroke symptoms.

Stroke patients who receive t-PA are at least 30 percent more likely to leave the hospital with little or no disability after three months. Only one to three percent of those eligible for this treatment are receiving it because it takes the average American 12 to 24 hours to get to the hospital and they miss the three hour window of opportunity.

Other treatments available include neuroprotectants, drugs that protect the brain cells surrounding the area of a stroke and limit the spread of brain damage.

Life after Stroke?
Strokes can be life-changing for both stroke survivors and their care givers. Women, in both roles, must aim to maintain positive attitudes and seek emotional support to enhance the quality of their lives after stroke.

After a stroke, both the survivor and family members can be apprehensive about being on their own at home. Common concerns can include:
  • Fear of another stroke
  • Inability to accept physical or cognitive impairments
  • Apprehension about keeping the survivor at home or moving them to assisted living facilities
  • Overpowering responsibilities of round-the-clock care giving
  • Fear of abandonment by friends and family
For the Survivor
To survive is to live through adversity. Almost 250,000 women survive strokes every year. While the road to recovery can be long , it offers opportunities for growth and personal achievement.
Begining Recovery Through Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation process will be determined by the severity of the stroke. Some survivors need only limited services while others will need months of rehabilitation. The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to restore as much independence as possible by improving physical, mental and emotional functions. Depending on the severity of the stroke and available funding and medical insurance, stroke rehabilitation options can include:
  • In-hospital therapy services
  • Rehabilitation hospital
  • Home therapy
  • Day hospital
  • Community-based programs
  • Adult day services
  • Home with outpatient therapy

During all phases of rehabilitation and recovery, survivors will most likely work with a team of professionals with different specialties. Both survivors and care givers should get acquainted with everyone on the health care team and feel comfortable addressing any recovery issues with them.

The recovery health care team can include:
Physiatrists and rehabilitative neurologists – specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation and assess the level of disability, monitor health and treat any complications of stroke.

Rehabilitation nurses – assist patients to make rehabilitation services part of the daily routine and help instruct family members about stroke-related disabilities, medications and other treatments.

Psychologists, social workers and case managers – aid patients with emotional and re-adjustment issues by providing counseling and support services in addition to information about community resources.

Physical, occupational and recreation therapists and speech-language pathologists – work directly with stroke survivors and their care givers to address needs in physical, communication, thinking and swallowing abilities and to explore leisure activities and support systems.

 
 

Copyright © 2000, North Carolina Stroke Association