Summary: Stroke is among the leading causes of death in the US. Some factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle are well-known risk factors for stroke. It is also known that women are at a greater stroke risk. A new study shows that women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis have a 34% higher stroke risk.
Cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack are the number one causes of death in the US. Though they are not entirely preventable, one can significantly reduce risk through lifestyle interventions and identifying the risk factors. For example, it appears that endometriosis is associated with a significantly higher stroke risk than in women. A stroke is a medical emergency in which blood flow to the brain is disrupted, either by a blocked blood vessel or a leaking one. However, more than 90% of stroke events occur due to blocked arteries rather than due to their rupture.
The resulting lack of oxygen and nutrients can cause brain cells to die, leading to serious and often permanent injury or disability. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are the most common and occur when a blood clot forms in an artery leading to the brain, while hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds. There are several risk factors for stroke, some of which are modifiable and others that cannot be changed. Modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, and a diet high in salt and saturated fats.
Other factors, such as age, gender, and family history, are non-modifiable. Women may have a higher stroke risk than men, especially after menopause, when hormone levels decrease and other risk factors become more prominent. In addition, women with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure also have a higher risk of stroke.
It’s important to understand and address risk factors for stroke, as early identification and management can help prevent the onset or recurrence of a stroke. This can involve lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and managing stress. In addition, regular check-ups and monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glucose levels can help identify and treat conditions that increase the risk of stroke.
Although doctors have long known about stroke risk factors like hypertension or high cholesterol, the new study suggests that endometriosis is also a significant risk factor for stroke in women. Moreover, it is worth understanding that endometriosis is not a rare condition and affects about 10% of women of reproductive age. It means that higher stroke incidence in women is explained not only by hormonal changes but also by certain other health issues like endometriosis.
In a new study published in the journal Stroke of American Heart Association, researchers found that the risk of stroke for women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis is about 34% higher, which is statistically significant.
Further, the study found that the risk of stroke was even higher in women who had undergone a hysterectomy or those who had hormone therapy. However, factors that were not related to stroke risk associated with endometriosis were infertility, BMI, menopause status, and more.
Of course, this study by no means says that those who have endometriosis will have a stroke. All it says is that they have a slightly elevated risk. However, since doctors rarely relate endometriosis with stroke risk, these findings have implications for healthcare teams since it means greater attention to stroke prevention in those diagnosed with endometriosis.
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