Stroke kills more French women than breast cancer

In France, stroke (also known as an acute vascular accident or AVC) kills more women than breast cancer, with about 18,000 women dying each year from stroke compared to 12,000 from breast cancer, according to Santé publique France. Women are more affected than men after the age of 75, and the disease does not affect both genders at the same age.

Women more likely to suffer severe disabilities

Overall, more women die from stroke and are more often left with severe disabilities. However, women still delay calling emergency services when they first notice symptoms. "There is a sociological factor: women tend to prioritize family life over their health," a practitioner noted. "When facing a stroke, every minute lost means two million neurons lost and kilometers of brain cables lost."

Hormonal factors increase stroke risk in women

Three hormonal factors in women's lives—use of the pill, pregnancy, and menopause—contribute to stroke risk. In addition to the usual risk factors shared with men (high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking), women have vulnerabilities associated with hormonal changes. The pill: "It is really important to be careful when prescribing the estrogen-progestin or combined pill to women who smoke or have migraines with aura," warned a neurologist.

Pregnancy and menopause as risk factors

Pregnancy: "During pregnancy, gestational hypertension can develop, which can trigger pre-eclampsia. This increases the risk of stroke during pregnancy and the days that follow, but also throughout life after." Pregnancy also promotes weight gain and diabetes. Menopause: "This is also a key stage due to the decrease in estrogens and the change in metabolic profile. Weight gain increases blood pressure, bad cholesterol increases, and good cholesterol decreases."

Migraine and atrial fibrillation as specific risk factors

Migraine with aura and atrial fibrillation are two risk factors specific to women. "We do not know exactly why migraine with aura modifies vascular risk," explained the specialist. "Several lines of research are being explored: an effect on the arteries' walls, common genetic mechanisms, or an increased frequency of patent foramen ovale, an anatomical feature in the heart that can increase risk in young people."

Atypical symptoms delay diagnosis in women

Atrial fibrillation, generally more common in men, is more dangerous in women: it multiplies the risk of stroke by 2 in women, compared to 1.5 in men. Nearly 30 percent of women have atypical symptoms. According to Inserm, nearly 30 percent of women present so-called atypical symptoms: sudden fatigue, dizziness, a state of confusion, or sometimes chest pain. "As women are more likely to recognize themselves as stressed, their symptoms can be attributed to excessive stress or a migraine with aura. This delayed diagnosis contributes to the fact that women arrive at the hospital later, die more often, or are left with more severe disabilities," noted Dr. Karine Blanc-Lasserre.

Recognizing stroke symptoms is critical

Stroke: "It is possible to reduce the risks by 80%." Mechanically, a stroke corresponds to a stop in blood flow in the brain: "In 80 percent of cases, an artery becomes blocked. If it is not unblocked quickly, it causes a cerebral infarction. In 15 percent of cases, the artery ruptures and causes a hematoma that damages the part of the brain affected."

Lifestyle changes can reduce stroke risk

Due to the aging population, chronic stress, pollution, and cannabis consumption among young people, projections indicate a 50 percent increase in cases by 2050. The specialist tempered: "By following the doctor's prescriptions correctly, it is possible to reduce the risks by 80 percent. These lifestyle habits consist first of regularly monitoring blood pressure (the main risk factor and direct cause of stroke), consuming fruits and vegetables, not smoking, practicing at least 30 minutes of walking three times a week, and limiting alcohol consumption."