Because the physiology of men’s and women’s bodies differs, many experts believe that treatment and prevention methods are likely to vary in their effectiveness between the genders. However, to date little research has been performed into these differences. For now, treatments remain similar for both men and women. More research is needed to develop a more complete understanding of female physiology and stroke risk.

A stroke is a medical emergency. Immediately after a stroke, the patient may be treated using medications designed to dissolve any blood clots that may be causing the stroke. Surgery may also be recommended to remove blockages or repair immediate damage.

Women who survive a stroke may experience mild to severe damage to certain parts of the brain. This may result in symptoms ranging from memory loss to paralysis. Some of the after-effects of a stroke can be treated using a combination of medications and rehabilitation (e.g., speech therapy, physical therapy, counseling). Some women require long-term care following a stroke. Women are more likely than men to be transferred to a long-term care facility after stroke than to return home. In addition, women are more likely than men to experience more significant disability after stroke.

Women should be aware of the lifestyle factors that generally increase the risk of stroke, including high blood pressure (hypertension), smoking (increases stroke risk up to three fold), lack of exercise and obesity.

For most women, the number one prevention method against stroke is to reduce, control or eliminate as many risk factors as possible. Specific prevention strategies include:

• Getting regular exercise. Regular physical activity can greatly reduce the risk of stroke. Studies have found that the risk of dying from stroke declined as physical activity increased across all age groups, strengthening the evidence that physical activity is an important part of any strategy to prevent stroke in women at any age.
  
  
• Not smoking. Smoking is particularly dangerous for women, especially if they are also taking birth control pills.
  
  
• Eating a heart-healthy diet. People who eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day are less likely to suffer from ischemic stroke (the most common form) than those who eat less than three servings a day. Eating foods rich in vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and other heart-healthy substances is also important. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, helps increase levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and may help reduce the risk of stroke. Research has demonstrated that women who ate at least five servings of fish a week had a 62 percent lower risk of stroke, compared with those who ate fish less than once a month. Researchers have also noted that women who eat large amounts of whole-grain foods have lower risk of ischemic stroke as compared to women who ate little or no whole-grain foods.
  
  
• Avoiding excessive alcohol use. Moderate alcohol use for women is typically defined as no more than one drink per day. One drink means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
  
  
• Controlling blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major cause of strokes. This disease usually can be effectively treated. However, many women and men do not receive the screening necessary to catch this silent but potentially deadly condition. Some groups of women are particularly unlikely to receive screening. About 73 percent of all American Indian/Alaska Native women have not had blood pressure screening in the past 12 months, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The same study found that 27 percent of Asian American women, 26 percent of Hispanic women, 20 percent of white women and 18 percent of African-American women had also not been screened in at least one year.