According to the New York Times, strokes kill 140,000 Americans a year, making it the third leading cause of death.
A stroke occurs “when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted because a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts open,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The two types of strokes—ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke—have different causes. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot, which prevents the blood from reaching the brain. There are two subtypes of an ischemic stroke: a thrombotic stroke is when a blood clot blocks a narrow artery, called a thrombus, while an embolic stroke is when a clot breaks off and travels up to the brain, called an embolism. A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is caused by a burst blood vessel.
While strokes are more common in men, women have an increased risk during and shortly after a pregnancy. Other risk factors for strokes include high blood pressure, a family history of stroke, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and increasing age. Since a stroke can result in death or neurological damage, high risk persons should look for preventative measures. The NIH notes that aspirin therapy can be used by women ages 65 and younger, where they take 81 mg a day or 100 mg every two days. Women interested in an aspirin therapy should consult their doctors beforehand. Other lifestyle changes that can help prevent a stroke include avoiding fatty foods and exercising regularly.
More invasive procedures are available to prevent a stroke. Surgery on blocked neck arteries is also considered a good preventative measure, but the New York Times reports that stents, which involve putting a small tube in the carotid artery, may be just as effective. However, the clinical results are mixed on the effectiveness of stents to prevent a stroke. A North American trial, Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial, had positive results. One month after the procedure, 4.1 percent of stent patients and 2.8 percent of surgery patients had a stroke, while 1.1 percent of stent patients and 2.3 percent of surgery patients had a heart attack. The researchers noted that the surgery had a greater impact on the patients' quality of life. The European trial, International Carotid Stenting Study, however, found more that stents had twice as many complications. One month after the procedure, 7.4 percent of stent patients and four percent of surgery patients experienced adverse effects, which include stroke, heart attack and death.
The New York Times notes that the differences between the studies may be due to the European study choosing only symptomatic patients, who may have more advanced cases, while the North American study only had experienced and highly skilled doctors. Besides finding which procedure has greater benefits, the stent studies also have health care implications: the results can affect if Medicare expands its coverage.
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Elizabeth Stannard Gromisch received her bachelor’s of science degree in neuroscience from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in May 2009. She is the Hartford Women's Health Examiner and she writes about abuse on Suite 101.