Here’s what you need to know about stroke in women

Stroke is a major health event that affects people in different ways.

According to Heart & Stroke, stroke disproportionately affects women, resulting in worse outcomes and higher mortality rates. Women also face more challenges as they recover.

Ada Tang, assistant dean of Rehabilitation Science in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, explains that while stroke can happen in both men and women, there are certain things that are unique to women.

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Risk factors for stroke in women include an increased risk of blot clots from certain birth control medications, pregnancy related complications, such as gestational diabetes, and a reduction in estrogen levels during the menopause transition, explains Tang.

She adds women can experience stroke at any point in their lifespan.

“Women tend to live longer than men, and so they tend also to be older when they experience stroke,” says Tang. “This means that they might have other health conditions that they’re experiencing at the same time.”

Tang explains that as health professionals, it’s important to make sure women understand the services that are available for them after they’ve had a stroke and make referrals to programs, support groups and other services that can help support women as they recover from stroke.

To learn more about some of the stroke research happening at McMaster, visit the MacStroke website.