Khaberni - Stroke is one of the main causes of disability worldwide, and it imposes a significant burden on families, health systems, and communities. Increasingly, strokes are not just affecting the elderly but have also begun affecting the younger population during what could be their most productive years, thereby hindering their work, family life, and long-term health.
Globally, women are more likely to suffer a stroke than men, partly because women live longer, and the risk of stroke in women is influenced by biological and hormonal factors throughout their reproductive years.
Pregnancy toxemia
According to research by Dr. Siobhan Maclernon at University College London, one important risk factor includes high blood pressure during pregnancy and preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia typically develops after 20 weeks and involves high blood pressure alongside organ damage, often affecting the kidneys or liver.
These conditions increase the risk of stroke during pregnancy and in later stages of life, because high blood pressure may damage the blood vessels that feed the brain.
Contraceptives
According to "The Conversation", the use of hormonal contraceptives may affect the risk of having a stroke. Not all hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of stroke, but the main concern lies with combined oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progesterone, as they may increase the likelihood of blood clots and high blood pressure.
Smoking
The risk increases in women who smoke, or those over the age of 35, or those who suffer from migraines with aura.
Contraceptives that contain only progesterone are not associated with the same level of risk.
According to the World Health Organization, about 248 million women worldwide use hormonal contraceptives.
Menopause
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease. This hormone usually helps protect the walls of the blood vessels and supports healthy cholesterol levels. When estrogen levels drop, blood vessels may become stiffer and more prone to damage, increasing the risk of stroke.
Hormone replacement therapy is sometimes used to treat symptoms of menopause. Some forms of hormone replacement therapy, especially those containing estrogen, have been linked to a slight increase in the risk of stroke, particularly in older women or those who start hormone replacement therapy many years after menopause.
Migraines
Women are more prone to migraines, especially migraines accompanied by aura. This type of migraine is associated with temporary disturbances in blood flow in the brain, increasing the risk of stroke.
Autoimmune diseases
Examples of these include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, which are more common in women and cause chronic inflammation.
The inflammation contributes to the narrowing and weakening of blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of stroke.
