A stroke is an interruption in the blood supply of your brain. It can be caused by a sudden blockage of your arteries or by a burst blood vessel which bleeds into the brain. Each year 15 million people suffer from a stroke and almost 7 million will die from it. Strokes can occur at any age and for those who are over 55, your risk of stroke doubles with each decade.
Stroke Risks
- An unhealthy diet, one which is high in salt, trans fats, saturated fats and cholesterol
- Lack of exercise. Something as simple as walking several times a week can lower your risk of stroke.
- Alcohol use and smoking. Drinking alcohol raises your blood pressure and it’s now been found that 50% of strokes are caused by over use of alcohol. Smoking can damage your blood vessels, also increasing your risk.
- Uncontrolled diabetes
While some symptoms of stroke are the same in men and women, there are also some differences.
Signs of Stroke in Women
- Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body. One side of the face may be drooping.
- Sudden blurred vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden confusion, slurred speech, trouble speaking or understanding others
- Sudden severe headache for no reason at all
- Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness or loss of balance. This includes loss of coordination or trouble walking.
- Nausea
The most common complaints among women without any of the usual warning signs: loss of consciousness or fainting, difficulty breathing, pain, and seizures.
Signs of Stroke in Men
- Numbness on one side of the body
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Poor coordination or difficulty maintaining balance
- Men may also have some of the same signs as women
Signs of stroke in women can be much more vague than those of men, which is why women often don’t receive proper medical care after having a stroke. To read about the signs of stroke and what you can do to help prevent them, click here.
Strokes can forever change lives, read about our co-founder’s journey after her own father’s stroke….one of the reasons she started Seniors Lifestyle, to bring awareness and insights on issues like this to other adult children and seniors, click here.
