Women have Unique Stroke Risk Factors. Here’s how to Spot them and Prevent one.

Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in women and kills more women than men. In fact, one in five women will have a stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lifetime risk of stroke for women between the ages of 55 and 75 in the United States is 1 in 5. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer does, making stroke the third leading cause of death for women.

Surprised? You’re not alone. Many women do not know their risk of having a stroke.

These facts are alarming, but there is good news: 80% of strokes are preventable. That’s why it’s important to know your risk for stroke and take action to reduce the risk. And you can learn more about how CDC and its partners are leading programs to help women prevent stroke.

What puts women at risk for stroke?

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a main risk factor for stroke.

More than 2 in 5 women have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg or are taking medicine to control their blood pressure. Only about 1 in 4 of those women have their blood pressure controlled to below 130/80 mm Hg.

Stroke risk increases with age, and women live longer than men.

Women also have unique risk factors for stroke, including:

• Having high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Using certain types of birth control medicines, especially if they also smoke. About 1 in 8 women smoke.
• Having higher rates of depression.

How can you prevent a stroke?

The CDC advises that most strokes can be prevented by keeping medical conditions under control and making healthy lifestyle changes:

Know your ABCs of heart and brain health:

• Aspirin: Aspirin may help reduce your risk for stroke, but you should check with your doctor before taking aspirin, because it can make some types of stroke worse. Before taking aspirin, talk with your doctor about whether it is right for you.
• Blood pressure: Control your blood pressure with healthy lifestyle changes (see below) and take your blood pressure medicines as directed. Learn more about blood pressure.
• Cholesterol: Manage your cholesterol with healthy lifestyle changes and take your medicine as directed. Learn more about cholesterol.
• Smoking: Don’t start smoking. If you do smoke, learn how to quit.

Make lifestyle changes:

• Eat healthy: Choose healthy foods most of the time, including foods with less salt, or sodium, to lower your blood pressure, and that are rich in fiber and whole grains to manage your cholesterol. Learn more about healthy eatingexternal icon basics from ChooseMyPlate.gov, as well as small steps you can take to boost your healthy eating habitsexternal icon from the “Live to the Beat” campaign.
• Get regular physical activity: Regular physical activity helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight and keeps your heart and blood vessels healthier. Find inspiration and tips for getting regular physical activityexternal icon from the “Live to the Beat” campaign.

Work with your health care team:

• Talk to your doctor about your chances of having a stroke, including your age and whether anyone in your family has had a stroke. Learn how to find the right doctor for youexternal icon from the “Live to the Beat” campaign.
• Get other health conditions under control, such as diabetes or heart disease.

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