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Recently, the American Heart Association released new guidelines related to stroke risk and prevention in women. Some risk factors and prevention methods are unique to women, meaning you can't just rely on broad information to tell whether you're at risk or if you're taking the right preventive measures.
According to the National Stroke Association, 425,000 women experience stroke each year, which is 55,000 more than the number of men. Sixty percent of stroke deaths occur in women.
Here's what you need to know to evaluate your risk and take the right preventative measures.
Some risk factors are shared with men
Characteristics that raise men's and women's risk of stroke include:
Others are unique to women
Some risk factors only relate to women. These include:
Some risk factors are more likely to affect women because they have a higher prevalence among women. These include:
New prevention recommendations for women
The AHA's new guidelines include specific prevention methods geared toward women. These include:
Symptoms to look out for
Recognizing stroke symptoms is important. Symptoms commonly seen in both men and women are:
In addition, women may experience these stroke symptoms:
The best way to identify a stroke is with the FAST method, which stands for face, arms, speech and time. If one side of the face droops when a person smiles, if one arm drifts downward when they're both raised and if speech is slurred or sounds strange, call 911 immediately. Time is crucial when treating a stroke; the most effective treatments must be given within the first three hours of the first symptoms. Don't delay calling for emergency help.