Women Often Miss Signs of Stroke

A new online survey of U.S. women finds only about one in four women aged 25 to 75 can name more than two primary symptoms of stroke.

This is important because researchers say it takes longer for women than men to seek medical care at the hospital after a stroke, and researchers think lack of awareness about symptoms may cause even worse delays.

The survey also found that women think that breast cancer is five times more common than stroke (women are actually twice as likely to die of stroke than breast cancer), and 40 percent of women surveyed weren't very concerned about experiencing a stroke.

In general, women surveyed weren't aware that women suffer more strokes than men, and one-quarter said they didn't believe stroke could happen at any age.

The researchers also found that black and Hispanic women knew fewer facts about stroke than white women in some specific areas of knowledge.

"If you experience any of the symptoms of a stroke, it is imperative to call 911 so you receive immediate medical attention, even if the symptoms go away," Dr. Angela Gardner, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said in a news release from the HealthyWomen organization. "Time equals brain; for every minute the brain is deprived of oxygen, it may lose up to 1.9 million brain cells. If you are having even one of the symptoms of stroke, come to the emergency department so we can evaluate and treat you."

The main symptoms of stroke are:
Sudden difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or confusion
Sudden numbness or weakness in the limbs, particularly on one side
Sudden facial drooping or numbness and weakness on one side of the face
Sudden balance problems, dizziness or trouble walking
Sudden difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
Sudden severe headache

The online-only survey included 2,000 women in the United States, and was undertaken on behalf of HealthyWomen in conjunction with the American College of Emergency Physicians and National Stroke Association. It was funded by the Genentech, a biotech company that develops medications.

SOURCE: HealthyWomen, news release.

More Clues Emerge on How HIV Infects Women

Researchers have identified a previously unknown way that women are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

HIV can break down and penetrate the epithelial cell barrier (designed to keep out infection) in the intestinal and female genital tract during intercourse, according to the study published online April 8 in PLoS Pathogens.

Prior to this study, many scientists believed that HIV invaded women's reproductive tract after some sort of trauma, such as a small tear during intercourse. This is the first time researchers have pinpointed HIV itself as the possible culprit.

The breakdown in protection appears to be caused by inflammatory factors produced when HIV binds to epithelial cells. The tight junctions between the protective cells are destroyed, which gives HIV access to the inside of the body in order to infect immune cells, the Canadian study authors noted.

"This is a significant step forward in defining where prevention strategies, such as microbicides and vaccines, need to focus. Instead of trying to stop HIV from infecting the target cells underneath the [protective barrier], we need to think about ways to stop the virus from attaching to epithelial cells themselves," lead researcher Charu Kaushic, an associate professor in the Centre for Gene Therapeutics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, said in a university news release.

Women account for half of the 40 million people worldwide infected with HIV.


SOURCE: McMaster University, news release