Major Symptoms Of Strokes In Women

Symptoms Of Strokes In Women

Hey there, did you know that women are more at risk of having strokes than men? Of course, there are certain symptoms exclusive to their gender only. These signs cannot be ignored.

Women who have severe headaches or vision problems, along with pain on one side of your face and fatigue are at a higher risk of getting strokes.  

In this post, we will discuss 7 symptoms of strokes in women. Let’s begin.

 

Vision Problems

Alright now take a second and ask yourself this question, “Has my vision been hazy or blurred lately?”

If the answer is yes, maybe you should be a little careful. Many times, it might not even be hazy or blurred vision. You might have problems seeing through both eyes. Sometimes one of your eyes may be functioning properly, but the other one may not. There will even be times where your vision feels disoriented. This mainly happens because of the nerves that are responsible for sending the visual information to your brain. These nerves aren't able to send signals properly.

In some cases, it has been observed that the optic nerves incur damage due to the stroke. Some damage can lead to permanent blurred vision.

 

Breathing Difficulties

Breathing difficulties can occur for several reasons. From a lung infection to the gases segregated in your gut. Breathing difficulty may also lead to stroke.

This is how it works, when you have difficulty breathing, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. As a result, the brain will be deprived of air. When your brain is low on oxygen, you are at risk of stroke. This works vice-versa. You can also develop breathing difficulties after the stroke has happened.

 

High Blood Pressure

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure can lead to strokes in the long run. This is applicable to both men and women alike. When your blood vessels don’t get enough oxygen, they slow down. This is because they are unable to properly circulate blood. To compensate, your heart starts pumping blood at a faster rate.  

As a result, the arteries and the blood vessels are pressurized. As this continues, your blood pressure increases. If you don’t do anything about it, you put yourself at risk of a stroke. Usually, a proper sleep schedule can help. On top of that, a diet free of excess sodium. Also drink lots of water. While it may vary from person to person, an average of 3 liters a day is ideal. Unlike the previous points, if you can control your blood pressure, you won’t have to deal with strokes. If only our next symptom was as simple.

 

Numbness

A numbing sensation on one side of the face is among the most common stroke symptoms in women. If you happen to be going through it, you are at risk. Strokes usually damage vital brain cells. They also block proper functions. One of them is the lack of sensation on one side of your face. This happens because the nerves can’t carry out signals sent by the brain.

As such, blood vessels get congested in one place, which halts the circulation of blood. This causes a numb feeling in your face. Here’s something that you should know, because of this congestion your brain will not receive the amount of oxygen it is supposed to.

Keep in mind, it may happen because you put too much pressure on your face while sleeping. In such case, it wouldn’t lead to a stroke. So, don’t self-diagnose yourself, please rush to the doctor the moment you see this symptom.

 

Speech Problems

In some cases, the nerves that connect your brain to your mouth and tongue may get damaged. This puts pressure on your mouth and tongue, which in turn impacts your speech and the way you convey your messages. This is how you get a slurred speech.

Here is the second part of the problem, nerve damage has some effects on your brain. Over the course of time, it could not only impact the way you talk but also the way you think. If any type of medical help is not sought, it could increase your risk of getting a stroke. This is especially true for women over 50. The body’s cellular repair system slows as we age. So, females around this group, be cautious.

After that, it continues to grow weaker. Any type of nerve damage after the age of 50 could mean that you are more likely to develop a stroke. While people of all ages can be affected by them, growing old increases the risk. Now let’s talk about a more subtle sign of a stroke.

 

Fatigue

It’s a common feeling. You wake up in the morning and don’t want to leave your bed. Your body is just so drained of its energy that the thought of being productive feels like a death sentence.

This is fatigue folks. In many cases, it is one of the main signs of an oncoming stroke. Whenever you feel an unreasonable amount of fatigue, you are at risk of a stroke. There is a silver lining in this one though. Fatigue is a symptom of countless other things. Starting from a lack of estrogen in your body to menopause to menstrual cycles. Even depression could cause fatigue. While fatigue can serve as a stroke symptom, it’s not the most alarming. For a reliable opinion, visit your nearest doctor. If you have more than two symptoms listed so far, you are likely at risk. Here is another sign that may be overlooked.

 

Mood Swings

When you’re at risk of a stroke, your mood may change dramatically. But mood swings aren’t the most reliable symptoms. Stroke-related swings are caused by nerve damage. This is why you need to be worried if you feel your mood is shifting too quickly. If nerve damage is too much, it leads to major complications. So, if you feel your mood is shifting too quickly, you know what to do. The best part about this is that you can prevent this situation altogether. Just eat foods that contain a healthy amount of vitamin B12 and keep yourself in a good mood. Listening to some soothing music, doing yoga, or joining tai chi classes could prove helpful in this case. You can also try strolling through a park, or anywhere that makes you feel closer to nature. Walking or spending time in nature benefits the body greatly. Also, try to think of simple ways to deal with life. Overthinking things usually isn’t one of them.

So, do you have any of the symptoms we mentioned in this post? Do you know anyone who has had a stroke? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!