New Stroke Guidelines for Women

Stroke is now more common in women than men in the United States, representing more than half of the 795,000 cases that occur each year, according to the American Stroke Association. To improve awareness among women and physicians, guidelines have been specifically created for the first time to better help prevent stroke in women. A stroke hits when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts, restricting oxygen and destroying brain cells, according to the American Stroke Association (ASA). Strokes are also deadlier for women, with about 60 percent of stroke deaths happening in women, says the ASA. "The guidelines present a good opportunity to focus on women-centered needs," says Paul Damski, M.D., a neurologist and Stroke Program Medical Director for Baptist Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital. "Women's issues that affect stroke risk include pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal imbalances and menopause." Women share...