• Online Scheduling | Careers

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Behavioral Health
        • Critical Care Medicine
        • Diabetes Care
        • Diagnostic Imaging
        • Digestive Health
        • Emergency Services
        • Heart Care
        • Hospice
        • Infusion Services
        • Joint Replacement
        • Laboratory Services
        • Maternity Care
        • Neurology
        • Nutrition Services
        • Orthopedic Services
        • Pediatric Care
        • Pharmacy
        • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
        • Rehabilitation Services
        • Sleep Disorders Center
        • Stroke Care
        • Surgical Services
        • Urgent Care
        • Women's Health
        • Wound Care
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • Admissions
              • Cafeteria Information
              • Community Resources
              • DAISY Award Nominations
              • Directions
              • Events
              • Financial Information
              • Going Home
              • Health Library
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
              • Request Medical Records
              • Spiritual Care
              • Your Stay
                • Careers
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Mat-Su Medical Group
                  • Rehabilitation Centers
                  • Urgent Care
                  • Other Locations
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Awards & Accreditations
                    • Board of Directors
                    • Board of Trustees
                    • Careers
                    • Community Benefits
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Phone Directory
                    • Quality & Safety
                    • Senior Circle
                    • Volunteer Opportunities
                      • (907) 861-6000
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Online Bill Pay
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Events
                      • Contact
                      • analog clock icon
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        6 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      Home/Patients & Visitors/Health Library/Women's Stroke Risk Factors

                      Refine Results

                      About Us
                      eNewsletter Redirect
                      Events
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Admissions
                      Cafeteria Information
                      Community Resources
                      DAISY Award Nominations
                      Directions
                      Events
                      Financial Information
                      Billing & Insurance
                      Billing & Registration FAQ
                      Eligibility Services
                      Medicare
                      Online Bill Pay
                      Patient Protections Against Surprise Billing
                      Price Information
                      Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate
                      Going Home
                      Health Library
                      Online Scheduling
                      Online Check-In FAQ
                      Patient Portal
                      Patient Portal FAQ
                      Request Medical Records
                      Spiritual Care
                      Your Stay
                      Services
                      • information
                      • news
                      • Avg ER Wait:
                        6 Min

                        About ER Wait Times
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes Intensive Care Unit at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

                        05.19.2025

                      • Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Earns an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

                        05.01.2025

                      • See All News & Press Releases
                      • Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Sign Up For Our E-Newsletter

                        Featuring a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                        Learn More
                      • Mobile Device

                        Online Scheduling

                        Free, convenient online check-in services.

                        Learn More
                      • Nurse and Patient

                        Patient Portal

                        Access your medical information
                        on demand.

                        Learn More

                      Women's Stroke Risk Factors

                      According to the CDC, someone in America has a stroke every 40 seconds.

                      While you might know the signs of a stroke when it's happening due to the acronym FAST (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 9-1-1), did you know there are other risk factors?

                      High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes were leading causes of this condition. However, stroke signs and risk factors can differ for men versus women.

                      According to the National Stroke Association, few women recognize the threat despite having 55,000 more strokes each year than men. A 2017 study in the Western Journal of Nursing Research found less than half of women have an accurate awareness of their stroke risk. In addition to the most common risk factors, characteristics of strokes distinct to women include:

                      • A history of migraines
                      • Hormone replacement during menopause
                      • Oral contraceptive use, particularly with high blood pressure
                      • Physiological changes that may take place during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure)

                      Strokes are the third leading cause of death for women—killing almost double the women breast cancer does. However, there are ways to reduce risk. Harvard Medical School suggests:

                      • Drinking alcohol in moderation. Most experts advise women keep it under two drinks daily.
                      • Exercising 30 minutes per day, five days per week.
                      • Keep blood sugar in check to avoid damaged blood vessels.
                      • Losing 10 pounds or working with a doctor to get your BMI to 25 or lower.
                      • Lowering your blood pressure, since high blood pressure can double or quadruple stroke risk.
                      • Quit smoking, as it increases plaque buildup in arteries.

                      Women-specific stroke symptoms share one characteristic with classic signs — they occur without warning. According to the National Stroke Association, unique symptoms include:

                      • Change in normal breathing rhythm
                      • Chest pain or tightness
                      • Hiccups
                      • Nausea
                      • Skipping or racing heartbeat
                      • Weakness throughout the body

                      If you notice any of these signs, call 911 and note the time. Medical personnel will need to know when you first saw symptoms to determine the best treatment.

                      Want More Health Tips?

                      Sign up for our e-newsletter, Live Healthy, to receive a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.

                      Back

                      Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

                      • 2500 South Woodworth Loop
                      • Palmer, AK 99645
                      • P: (907) 861-6000
                      • F: (907) 861-6559

                      • ADA Accessibility Policy
                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Change Your Privacy Choices
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities
                      • Price Transparency

                      Copyright ©2025. All rights reserved.

                      An AllianceHealth Oklahoma® hospital

                      Services

                      • Behavioral Health
                      • Critical Care Medicine
                      • Diabetes Care
                      • Diagnostic Imaging
                      • Digestive Health
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Hospice
                      • Infusion Services
                      • Joint Replacement
                      • Laboratory Services
                      • Maternity Care
                      • Neurology
                      • Nutrition Services
                      • Orthopedic Services
                      • Pediatric Care
                      • Pharmacy
                      • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
                      • Rehabilitation Services
                      • Sleep Disorders Center
                      • Stroke Care
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Urgent Care
                      • Women's Health
                      • Wound Care

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • Admissions
                      • Cafeteria Information
                      • Community Resources
                      • DAISY Award Nominations
                      • Directions
                      • Events
                      • Financial Information
                      • Going Home
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Request Medical Records
                      • Spiritual Care
                      • Your Stay

                      About Us

                      • Awards & Accreditations
                      • Board of Directors
                      • Board of Trustees
                      • Careers
                      • Community Benefits
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Phone Directory
                      • Quality & Safety
                      • Senior Circle
                      • Volunteer Opportunities

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá,
                      • עִברִית
                      Loading... Loading...