2023-06-30 16:12:51
Symptoms and risk factors for stroke can vary greatly by gender, which can lead to misdiagnosis. With the knowledge of typical warning signs, you can reduce the risk.
A stroke results from a circulatory disorder in the brain, which is caused either by a vascular blockage or the bursting of a vessel in the brain tissue. According to the Techniker Krankenkasse, around 270,000 people in Germany suffer a stroke every year. Of these, 55 percent are women. In addition, the stroke in women is often more severe and takes longer to recover.
The well-known symptoms of a stroke include acute speech and vision disorders, paralysis, and dizziness. However, women may also have more atypical signs that are not immediately associated with a stroke. According to Techniker Krankenkasse, these include chest pains and headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, confusion, difficulty swallowing, and hiccups.
Every second counts in a stroke. When several of these symptoms occur at the same time, it is important to seek medical advice immediately if you suspect you are having a stroke to avoid delays in medical care.
Men and women are equally affected by most risk factors for stroke. These include high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation. However, some factors favor stroke, especially in women. These include hormonal treatments and hormonal drugs such as the birth control pill, which can negatively affect the risk of stroke, especially in connection with smoking and obesity. Pregnancy-related high blood pressure also increases the risk of stroke in women. Studies show that women who develop high blood pressure during pregnancy have a significantly higher risk of stroke than women without pregnancy-related high blood pressure. Additionally, the risk of suffering a stroke is twice as high in women with atrial fibrillation as in men with atrial fibrillation.
It is important to note that this article was created with the help of machine assistance and carefully reviewed by editor Fangyi Chen before publication. It only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment, or medication. It is recommended to visit a doctor for specific concerns or questions about clinical pictures.]
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