[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02\/","headline":"Stroke Symptoms in Women","name":"Stroke Symptoms in Women","description":"Research has shown women are 33 percent less likely to report such \"classic\" stroke symptoms when they are suffering from a stroke. Learn more.","datePublished":"2015-08-30","dateModified":"2022-05-31","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","name":"Neurosurgery","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/neurosurgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02.jpg","height":867,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02\/","about":["Neurosurgery and Brain Health"],"wordCount":471,"keywords":["hemorrhagic stroke","ischemic stroke","medical mondays","stroke","stroke symptoms","transient ischemic attacks","women"],"articleBody":"Sometimes called a \u201cbrain attack,\u201d a stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either when a\u00a0blood clot\u00a0blocks a vessel (ischemic stroke) or when a vessel weakens or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). Brief interruptions in blood flow, known as\u00a0transient ischemic attacks\u00a0(also known as ministrokes), can mimic stroke symptoms.When blood flow is interrupted, brain cells don\u2019t receive enough oxygen and begin to die. Depending on what part of the brain is damaged, a stroke can cause problems with:MemorySpeechMuscle controlOther functionsAccording to the National Stroke Association, an estimated 800,000 people experience a stroke every year. The problem is the leading cause of disability in American adults and the fifth leading cause of death in the country.Act ImmediatelyFortunately, ischemic strokes \u2014 the most common type of stroke \u2014 respond to immediate treatment with a drug called IV-tPA, which can dissolve blood clots that block blood flow to the brain. Research has shown that some patients who were treated with IV-tPA within three hours of developing stroke symptoms were at least 30 percent more likely to recover with little or no disability, compared to those who didn\u2019t receive this drug. Because IV-tPA must be administered as soon as possible, it\u2019s imperative that you seek immediate medical attention if you think you or a loved one is having a stroke.Yet women are much less likely to receive this crucial treatment, possibly because they often experience different stroke symptoms than men. The latter tend to exhibit more \u201cclassic\u201d symptoms. Here\u2019s the difference:The Signs of StrokeSudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the bodySudden confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding speechSudden difficulty walking,\u00a0dizziness, or loss of balance or coordinationSudden trouble seeing in one or both eyesSudden\u00a0severe headachewith no known causeStroke Symptoms in WomenAlthough those are the symptoms that most people commonly experience, research has shown women are 33 percent less likely to report such \u201cclassic\u201d stroke symptoms when they arrive at the emergency room than their male counterparts. Some people \u2014 and women in particular \u2014 are more apt to experience other, vague symptoms that could signal a stroke. These include:Lightheadedness, fainting, or loss of consciousnessDifficulty breathing or shortness of breathGeneral weaknessAgitationConfusion, unresponsiveness, or disorientationSudden behavioral changesHallucinationsNausea or vomitingPainSeizuresHiccupsBecause such symptoms are often associated with other problems, people who exhibit them may not be aware that they are experiencing a stroke. If you think that you or a loved one are having a stroke, call 911 immediately.Contact\u00a0the\u00a0UPMC Stroke Institute\u00a0to schedule an appointment or ask a question at\u00a0412-232-8840.Editor's Note: This gallery was originally published on August 30, 2015, and was last reviewed on May 31, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"08","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/08\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Stroke Symptoms in Women","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/08\/stroke-symptoms-in-women-mm02\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]