Women often experience quieter or unusual symptoms that may not immediately look like a stroke.

Some warning signs more commonly reported by women include:

• Sudden nausea or vomiting
• Extreme exhaustion
• Shortness of breath
• Hiccups
• Confusion or disorientation
• Fainting
• Sudden mood or behavior changes
• Pain in the face, chest, arms, or legs
• A severe headache with no clear reason

Many women later say they felt that “something was very wrong” before the stroke happened.

Because these symptoms can resemble stress, anxiety, migraines, or fatigue, they are sometimes dismissed until it is too late.

REMEMBER THE WORD “FAST”

Doctors recommend using the FAST method to recognize stroke symptoms:

F — Face drooping
A — Arm weakness
S — Speech difficulty
T — Time to call emergency services immediately

The faster treatment begins, the greater the chance of survival and recovery.

STROKE RISK FACTORS YOU SHOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY

Stroke risk increases with:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Heavy alcohol use
• Chronic stress
• Lack of exercise
• Heart disease

For women, additional risk factors may include hormonal birth control, pregnancy complications, menopause, and migraines with aura.

FINAL THOUGHT