Key points

• Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, even new moms.
• Learn the key stroke symptoms.

Overview

Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, even new moms. Learn more about the connection between pregnancy and stroke and what you can do to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

Women may mistake their stroke symptoms for issues related to pregnancy and a new baby.

Stroke is not common in pregnancy or during the years women can have children. But pregnancy does put women at higher risk for stroke, and the rate of pregnancy-related stroke is rising.

Pregnancy is like a stress test; it can strain the heart and blood vessels. This is partly because the body carries more weight during pregnancy, but changing hormones also play a role.

Most women in the United States have healthy pregnancies and deliveries, but sometimes problems that increase the risk for stroke can happen. These problems including the following:

• High blood pressure during pregnancy. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy is the leading cause of stroke in pregnant women or women who have recently given birth. High blood pressure happens in up to 12% of pregnancies in the United States. Some women who had healthy blood pressure levels before getting pregnant can develop high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Preeclampsia is a more severe type of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Preeclampsia can cause vision problems, headaches, swelling in the hands and face, premature delivery, and a baby with low birth weight. At its most severe, preeclampsia can cause seizures (eclampsia) and lead to stroke. Women who had preeclampsia have a much higher risk of having high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke later in life than women who did not have high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Gestational diabetes. Some women suddenly develop problems with blood sugar (glucose) during pregnancy, a condition called gestational diabetes. This happens in as many as 1 in 10 pregnancies in the United States.Gestational diabetes raises the risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy and for heart disease and stroke later in life.
• Blood clots. Pregnancy makes the blood more likely to clot, which can lead to stroke. This increased risk for clotting happens in part because swelling from pregnancy can reduce blood flow to the lower legs. When blood does not circulate well, it is more likely to clot. During late pregnancy, the body also makes more of a substance that helps blood clot. This helps protect women from bleeding too much when they give birth, but it also raises the risk for stroke.

Many women may mistake their stroke symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, or tingling arms, for issues related to pregnancy and a new baby. If your symptoms appear suddenly, that may be a clue that you are having a stroke.

Learn the key stroke symptoms:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or another person, call 9-1-1 right away.

The best way to protect yourself and have a healthy pregnancy is to be in good health before you get pregnant.

• Do not smoke. Using tobacco products before or during pregnancy raises the risk for stroke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, learn how to quit smoking.
• Maintain a healthy weight. This will also help you have healthier blood pressure and blood sugar levels during pregnancy. When you get pregnant, aim to gain a healthy amount of weight.
• Choose healthy foods. An eating plan rich in whole grains, nuts, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables and low in sodium can support healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
• Stay physically active. Women with healthy pregnancies should get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days.
• Work with your health care team. Talk to your doctor about your risk for stroke or other problems during pregnancy. Your health care team will closely monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar throughout your pregnancy.

Stroke is a leading cause of death for women. In the United States, 1 in 5 women between the ages of 55 and 75 will have a stroke.

Surprised? You're not alone. Many women do not know their risk of having a stroke.

These facts are alarming, but there is good news: 4 in 5 strokes are preventable. That's why it's important to know your risk for stroke and take action to protect your health. And you can learn more about how CDC and its partners are leading programs to help women reduce their risk for stroke.

What is stroke?

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Blood carries oxygen to cells in the body. When brain cells are starved of blood, they die.

Stroke is a medical emergency. It's important to act F.A.S.T. and get treatment as soon as possible (see sidebar). Call 9-1-1 right away if you or someone you are with shows any signs of having a stroke.

Some treatments for stroke work only if given within the first 3 hours after symptoms start. A delay in treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death.

Risk factors

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a main risk factor for stroke.

More than 2 in 5 women in the United States have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg or are taking medicine to control their blood pressure. Only about 1 in 4 of them have their blood pressure controlled to less than 130/80 mm Hg.

Stroke risk increases with age. Because women generally live longer than men, more women have strokes over their lifetimes.

Women also have unique risk factors for stroke, including:

• Having high blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Using certain types of birth control medicines, especially if they also smoke. About 1 in 9 women smoke.
• Having higher rates of depression.

At-risk populations

Why are African American women at higher risk for stroke?

Stroke is a leading cause of death among African American women, who are more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic White women or Hispanic women in the United States. African American people have the highest rate of death due to stroke among all racial and ethnic groups.

• Almost 3 in 5 African American women are diagnosed with high blood pressure (greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg). This is a much higher proportion than White women (almost 2 in 5).
• African American women are diagnosed with higher rates of obesity (nearly 3 in 5) and diabetes (more than 1 in 8), conditions that increase the risk for stroke, than White women.
• US adults consume more than the recommended amount of salt or sodium, which raises blood pressure and increases the risk for stroke.
• Sickle cell disease, a common genetic disorder in African Americans, can lead to a stroke. About 1 in 365 African American babies are born with sickle cell disease.
• Smoking greatly increases stroke risk. About 1 in 8 African American women smoke.

Why are Hispanic women at risk for stroke?

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic women in the United States.

• High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for a stroke. More than 1 in 3 Hispanic women have blood pressure above 130/90 mm Hg.
• People with diabetes are at higher risk for stroke. More than 1 in 9 Hispanic women have diabetes—and many don't know they have it. Among Hispanic adults, diabetes is most common in people of Mexican and Puerto Rican ancestry.
• Obesity increases the risk for stroke. About half of Hispanic women have obesity.

Prevention

Most strokes can be prevented by keeping medical conditions under control and making healthy lifestyle changes.

Know your ABCS of heart and brain health

• Aspirin: Aspirin may help reduce your risk for stroke by preventing blood clots. You should check with your doctor before taking aspirin to make sure it is right for you.
• Blood pressure: Control your blood pressure with healthy lifestyle changes (see below) and take your blood pressure medicines as directed.
• Cholesterol: Manage your cholesterol with healthy lifestyle changes and take your medicine as directed.
• Smoking: Don't start smoking. If you do smoke, learn how to quit.

Make lifestyle changes

• Eat healthy. Choose healthy foods most of the time. Eat foods with less salt, or sodium, to lower your blood pressure, and that are rich in fiber and whole grains to manage your cholesterol. Learn more about healthy eating basics from ChooseMyPlate.gov, as well as small steps you can take to boost your healthy eating habits from the "Live to the Beat" campaign.
• Get regular physical activity. Regular physical activity helps you reach and maintain a healthy weight and keeps your heart and blood vessels healthier. Find inspiration and tips for getting regular physical activity from the "Live to the Beat" campaign.

Work with your health care team

• Talk to your doctor about your chances of having a stroke, including your age and whether anyone in your family has had a stroke. Learn how to find the right doctor for you from the "Live to the Beat" campaign and how to make small steps toward heart-healthy living from the "Start Small. Live Big." campaign.
• Get other health conditions under control, such as diabetes or heart disease.