Greater Risk Around the Middle

By drodriguez Mar 29, 2008

The new alarming health trend of women at greater risk of suffering stroke has many people in the medical community very worried. A recent federal report from the National Health and Nutrition Survey reveals that the rate of strokes among middle-aged women has tripled in the last few years.

The survey results indicate that almost 2 percent of women age 35 to 54 reported suffering a stroke between 1999 and 2004. This is up from only a half a percent reported from the years 1988 to 1994. Another interesting aspect the survey revealed was that the male rate stayed the same at 1 percent in both surveys.

Most people who suffer strokes are in an older age group, but this spike in younger stroke victims is a very serious problem. Even though more women in the 1999 ? 2004 were taking medicines to lower cholesterol than those in previous they still reported 3 times as many incidences of stroke than before.

Dr. Amytis Towfighi, a neurology specialist at the University of Southern California, conducted a study to figure out what it was that changed in women over the last few years that would warrant such a drastic increase in strokes.

The study found that the traditional risk factors of smoking, heart disease or diabetes had not changed between the two surveys. The one thing that did stand out as a significant change was the increase of belly fat.

The amount of women who had abdominal obesity rose from 47 percent in the earlier survey to 59 percent in the latest. The change in belly fat was smaller for men in the survey. The new reports have doctors calling to re-examine the textbook idea that men are at a greater risk of stroke during middle age as these new numbers say the opposite.

What do you think of the latest research showing women are suffering strokes at a much higher rate than just a few years ago?

What do you think can be done to lower this rate?

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Comments

by doublej | CENTER, TX

Apr 06, 2008

I had a Stroke when I was 35 years old.I was not overweight, no high blood pressure,no heart disease.I was tested and retested and scanned and rescanned in three different hospitals;but the doctors could not tell me why I had a stroke.I lost partial use of my left side,but I am one of the lucky ones that was able to recover and can still work and carry on a normal life. I can tell a big difference in the way that I feel and am able to function better when I do follow a healthier regimen of diet and exercise.Stress management is also a big factor in the way I am able to do things. Yes,education is vital to all women in being able to recognize symptoms of any disease,but most of us ignore symptoms and try to keep going at the risk of our own health to take care of our families.

by Karolyn | Casselberry, FL

Apr 03, 2008

I think that we already have the education to make a change. For me, the problem is that my high-stress lifestyle is leading to increased health risks. I agree with what the previous poster said: "Stop Procrastinating" that includes me! =)

by mommy2twogirls | SAN ANTONIO, TX

Apr 03, 2008

I agree with kristensapphire, and I should be taking that advise myself, the only real way to change things is getting educated about lifestyles and then doing something about it. Stop procrastinating. I'm guilty of that one too. I know what I should be doing, I just put off starting to change my habits.

by butterflytouch | Burley, ID

Apr 02, 2008

Just something else to be worried about!

by kirstensapphire | Fremont, CA

Mar 31, 2008

I think education is key. Women should know the tell tale signs of strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Women obviously need to take preventative steps to avoid getting strokes, such as exercise, eating healthier, and quitting smoking. I think if women took healthier steps in their lives their would be less cardiovascular diseases, as well as others, such as cancer. The most obvious culprit is the "American Lifestyle". I think people need to start changing their habits and start educating themselves, because it's probably the only way to save thousands of lives a year.

by cvarano | BROOKLYN, NY

Mar 29, 2008

I just don't know. The obvious answer is exercise regularly but with a society that overeats, drives everywhere (even to the gym within walking distance), and exercises and diets mostly on a yo yo basis it's hard to change these routines. Also more women are working and raising children which means double the stress.