by Grenada Food and Nutrition Council
Women are more likely to be affected by a stroke in their lifetime than men. This is because women are exposed to various risk factors which can cause the occurrence of a stroke over her lifetime.
Here are some risk factors and how they can be mitigated through healthier lifestyle practices.
A stroke occurs when brain cells do not receive the amount of oxygen and nutrients they need because the blood supply to the brain is blocked or disrupted by a blood cloth or a broken blood vessel in the brain. According to the US Centres for Disease Control, women of African descent are more likely to be affected by a stroke in their lifetime compared to other races. This is because they are more likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes, more likely to be overweight or obese or have sickle cell anemia and over-consume the recommended intake of salt in their diet. Other factors which contribute to stroke in women are pregnancy, the use of certain types of birth control over time, smoking and depression.
A woman can reduce the likelihood of being affected by a stroke by making simple lifestyle changes which include maintaining a healthy weight, taking care of their mental health, monitoring blood pressure regularly and staying away from smoking and alcohol.
Making adjustments to eating habits can also help in reducing the likelihood of a stroke as this can help manage cholesterol by eating whole grains and fiber rich fruits and non-starchy vegetables. It can also help manage blood pressure by eating less sodium and salt and more herbs and spices to flavour foods. It is advised to reduce the consumption of saturated fats like red meats and full fat dairy as they can contribute towards uncontrolled cholesterol and sugars as they can cause damage to blood vessels.
