WASHINGTON -- A woman is more likely to die from a stroke than a man, yet prevention and treatment guidelines have always been targeted towards male patients, until now.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has just released the first set of stroke prevention guidelines specifically for women.
"Stroke affects women in ways that are different from men," says Dr. Alex Dromerick, a professor of neurology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Hormones, birth control, pregnancy and other sex-related factors can influence a woman's risk of stroke. But with monitoring and treatment, that risk can be lowered.
The recommendations -- published in the American Heart Association journal "Stroke" -- take aim at one of the main causes of cardiovascular problems: hypertension.
Women who plan to take birth control pills should be tested for high blood pressure first, and that goes double if they smoke or get severe migraines.
The guidelines also stress the importance of keeping blood pressure in check during pregnancy.
Dromerick, who is also vice president for research at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network, says good prenatal care is essential.
"One of the complications that can be associated with childbirth is called preeclampsia -- that is high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys during pregnancy," he explains. "And that can go on to cause a stroke and harm the baby."
And here is where a bit of irony comes in: For many years, research on strokes was conducted almost exclusively on men because researchers did not want to inadvertently include a woman who might be pregnant.
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Stroke affects more women than men, yet little education exists