Stroke symptoms in men & women – Times of India

When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or slowed, it results in a reduction in nutrients and oxygen, which causes a stroke. Within minutes, brain cells begin to degenerate. Another possible explanation is that the brains blood vessels burst, causing blood to accumulate and pressure to build up inside the brain.

Stroke symptoms like face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty are frequently experienced by both men and women. Other common symptoms include balance or coordination issues as well as issues with one or both eyes vision. Additionally, a patient may occasionally experience symptoms of a mini-stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) that last only briefly. The majority of patients ignore these symptoms because they are brief and go away quickly, but if prompt medical attention is not received, a serious stroke may result.

However, some stroke symptoms in women can be undetectable or dismissed due to their subtlety.

Common symptoms of Stroke in Men and Women

Why are women more likely than men to have a stroke?

The risk of stroke rises with age. Women have a higher lifetime risk of developing stroke because they typically live longer than men do. A headache, difficulty walking, difficulty speaking and understanding what others are saying, paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg are among the symptoms. Stroke symptoms are similar in men and women, but women are at higher risk for stroke because of pregnancy, preeclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, aura-producing migraines, and irregular heartbeat in women over 75. (atrial fibrillation).

The following factors contribute to women having a higher risk of stroke:

Pregnancy: Pregnant women have a comparatively higher risk of stroke, with the third trimester and the postpartum period having the highest risk. People with high blood pressure should receive medication treatment and close observation.

Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that results in high blood pressure, proteinuria, which is an indication of kidney damage, or other symptoms of organ damage. Additionally, it raises the danger of a stroke later in life.

Birth Control Pills: Despite the fact that birth control pills have become significantly safer over time, women who are already at risk for stroke should still exercise extra caution. Before prescribing the medication, it is advised to have your blood pressure checked.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: In postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy should never be used to lower the risk of stroke. People who are taking hormone replacement therapy should exercise extra caution to avoid smoking, especially if they are female migraine patients who are most at risk of having a stroke.

Migraines with Aura: Younger women who suffer from migraine with aura are more likely to have an ischemic stroke, especially if they smoke or use oral contraceptives. Smokers who experience migraines with an aura should stop doing so right away.

Atrial fibrillation: Stroke risk among women over 75 is boosted by atrial fibrillation by 20%.

How to Identify Stroke?

The identification of the stroke can help patients to act F.A.S.T in receiving the therapy/ treatment they require. The most effective stroke treatments are only accessible if the stroke is noticed and diagnosed within three hours of the onset of symptoms. If patients do not arrive at the hospital on time, they may be ineligible for these services.

The main features helping in stroke identification are FAST

Treatment and diagnosis of Stroke

Every part of the body is controlled by the brain, so a brain injury can leave a person permanently disabled and bedridden. It is not just a disability to the patient but a burden to caregivers also as it causes financial and emotional burdens. Since treatment for stroke is usually started within the first 34.5 hours, it is crucial for patient attendants to record the time of stroke onset whenever possible. Depending on the type of stroke, a clot buster injection could be given during the first 3-4.5 hours to relieve the symptoms. In some cases, mechanical thrombectomy (clot retrieval with minimally invasive surgery) can now be performed to lessen the symptoms of a stroke even after the window period has passed.

When a patient is outside the window period, the most common forms of treatment for stroke are antiplatelet medications and statins (drugs that lower cholesterol).

Some of the test may include:

Physical Exam: The physical examination will involve a number of procedures, such as blood pressure monitoring, a neurological examination, and heart and blood vessel listening tests to determine the health of your cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Blood tests: Blood tests will check your bloods ability to clot quickly, your blood sugar levels (both high and low), and your infection status.

CT Scan. Using a series of X-rays, a CT scan can produce a detailed image of your brains that can reveal conditions like tumours, ischemic strokes, bleeding in the brain, and more.

MRI: A magnetic field and strong radio waves are used in an MRI to produce a precise image of the brain. Brain haemorrhages and ischemic stroke damage can both be found on an MRI.

Carotid ultrasound: In this test, sound waves produce precise images of the interior of the necks carotid arteries. This test reveals blood flow and the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaques) in the carotid arteries.

Cerebral angiogram: Through a tiny incision, typically in the groin, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted for this test, which involves guiding it through the major arteries and into the carotid or vertebral artery.

Echocardiogram: Sound waves are used in an echocardiogram to produce fine-grained images of the heart. An echocardiogram can identify the origin of any heart clots that may have caused a stroke by moving from the heart to the brain.

How to Prevent Stroke?

The good news is that approximately 4 out of 5 strokes can be avoided. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to preventing stroke like regular exercise keeps the heart and blood vessels healthy and aids in maintaining a healthy weight. By regularly taking medications and leading a healthy lifestyle, blood pressure can be managed. Dietary cholesterol and saturated fat levels should be controlled and kept as low as possible. To control blood pressure, it is advised to increase the amount of fibre in your diet and reduce your salt intake. Its crucial to stop using tobacco and to stay away from secondhand smoke.

Rehabilitation is crucial during the recovery process after a stroke and typically begins within a day or two in the hospital. Rehabilitation eases the transition from the hospital to the patients home and can help stop further strokes. Everyone recovers from a stroke differently, and it can take anywhere from a few days to several months.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Stroke symptoms in men & women - Times of India