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Conditions We Treat
Women and StrokeAs Mary Jo Cussatt learned, there are special risks for this group—and fast response is critical Mary Jo Cussatt of Hazleton, Pa., thought she was too young for stroke. Warning Signs of StrokeMemorize these “B-E-N-C-H marks” to help you recognize stroke symptoms. If you see one or more of the signs, call 9-1-1 immediately! Clot-busters need to be given within three hours of the first symptoms. Balance—Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Eyes—Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes Numbness—Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Confusion—Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Headache—Sudden, severe headache with no known cause That’s the case with far too many stroke victims, says neurologist John Castaldo, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital’s stroke center. “Not recognizing the symptoms, they wait to see if the numbness or headache gets better, and we lose precious treatment time.” It’s a special concern with younger people like Cussatt (age 44 at the time), who are less likely to survive the brain swelling of a large stroke, Castaldo says. Brain atrophy in the elderly gives them some protection. Strokes afflict 750,000 Americans a year and are the third leading cause of death in this country. The most common cause is untreated high blood pressure. But other factors come into play in younger people, says Claranne Mathiesen, R.N., stroke program coordinator at Lehigh Valley Hospital. “Congenital heart abnormalities, blood disorders such as lupus, tobacco, illicit drug use, and infections all raise younger people’s risk,” she says. “And since many people under 50 don’t see a doctor regularly, high blood pressure often goes undiagnosed.” As for women, they’re more infection-prone than men, and their risk also rises if they use birth control pills, suffer from migraines or have diabetes (twice as common in women as men after age 45). Stroke risk is higher during and just after labor. The stroke-related impact of hormone replacement therapy is still under study, though it’s no longer recommended for heart disease protection. Finally, there’s the matter of depression—more common in women, and another proven risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Are women even less likely than men to recognize stroke symptoms and act on them? Probably, Mathiesen says: “Women tend to be in charge of the family’s health, but often neglect their own because they feel they ‘can’t take the time.’ ” A recent study also showed that women describe their stroke symptoms very differently than men. They’re more likely to report severe hiccups, facial pain, nausea and shortness of breath—nontraditional symptoms that can be harder to recognize. The result: “More women die from strokes than men,” Mathiesen says. “According to National Stroke Association statistics, they take 46 percent longer to reach the emergency room and wait longer when they get there.” Cussatt was lucky: her local hospital, Hazleton General, is part of Lehigh Valley Hospital’s stroke center network and immediately rushed her there by helicopter. The stroke rapid response team detected two major clots in her brain, and Cussatt underwent a life-saving procedure accessible to very few people. It’s called intra-arterial stroke therapy. The therapy, which is still being researched, is available in only about 20 medical centers nationally. “We thread a micro-catheter directly into the clot in the brain to deliver tPA, the ‘clot-busting’ drug, with great precision,” says Castaldo’s colleague, interventional radiologist James Newcomb, M.D. A year later, Cussatt has recovered almost completely except for weakness in her left hand. One of the causes of her stroke, she learned, is a hole in her heart that’s been there from birth; it affects blood flow, making clots more likely to form. She takes blood thinners for that, and has quit smoking and given up hormone replacement. The whole experience has been a sobering one. “I tell people, ‘If you have any type of stroke symptom, take it seriously,’ ” she says. “You think this can’t happen to you, but it can.” To Reduce Your Risk for Stroke
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Call 610-402-CARE (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday) to talk to nurses and other experts who can help you find a neuroscience doctor and more. This page last updated 4/22/08 03:41 PM
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