The American Heart Association has issued new guidelines for the prevention of strokes, specifically in women, and published them in "Stroke". While many risk factors are the same among both sexes, hormones, reproductive health and pregnancy play an important role in women, emphasised author Cheryl Bushnell from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem (North Carolina).
According to the guidelines, women who suffer from high blood pressure before pregnancy should be considered for treatment with low-dose aspirin and/or a calcium supplement to decrease the risk of preeclampsia. In later life, preeclampsia doubles the risk of stroke and quadruples the risk of high blood pressure. Therefore, early treatment of factors such as obesity and high cholesterol is recommended for women who had experienced preeclampsia.
The guidelines state that treatment is strongly recommended for women suffering from high blood pressure during pregnancy, and a therapy should be considered for those with moderately high blood pressure (150-159 mmHg/100-109 mmHg). The authors recommend that women with high blood pressure should not take birth control pills, because this combination could increase the risk of developing a stroke.
Increased attention is indicated in women who smoke and who suffer from migraine with aura. Over 75 year-olds should be screened for atrial fibrillation as this, likewise, increases the risk, said the physicians.
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