If she was having a stroke, could you tell?

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—When we think of someone suffering a stroke, we usually think of symptoms like loss of coordination, trouble speaking, or sudden weakness on one side of the body. But research recently highlighted at the recent 2009 International Stroke Conference suggests that women are more prone to show nontraditional signs of a stroke, and bystanders and doctors should be paying attention to them.

THE DETAILS: Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System set out to figure out why women face 30 percent lower odds of receiving clot-breaking medicine to treat a stroke, compared with men. Their study focused on 461 cases of transient ischemic attack (TIA, sometimes called “ministroke”) and ischemic stroke, the type 80 percent of stroke victims experience. They found that among women, nearly 52 percent reported at least one nontraditional stroke symptom, including confusion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness. Women were 1.42 times more likely to show these types of symptoms than men.

WHAT IT MEANS: In previous studies, researchers found that women experienced longer waits to see a physician and undergo brain imaging to diagnose a stroke, perhaps because they don’t always show the telltale symptoms. During a stroke, blood is being cut off from the brain, so every second counts. Knowing all the warning signs means a higher likelihood of getting medical attention, diagnosis, and treatment for a stroke victim.

Here’s how to recognize the signs of a stroke, and lower your risk:

• Know all the warning signs. If you’re with someone who suffers any of these symptoms, seek medical attention right away:

Altered mental status, such as confusion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Trouble talking
Loss of vision
Coordination problems

• Control certain risk factors. Some risk factors for stroke are uncontrollable (African Americans, older people, and men are more prone to suffer a stroke), but many of them can be altered. Smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and taking drugs increases your risk of having a stroke. If you’re obese, suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, or don’t exercise, you’re also more at risk. Fill out the American Stroke Association’s Personal Risk Assessment Form to see if you’re at risk. If you are, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize the chance of a stroke, and make lifestyle changes to cut your risk.