Women face special health risks that do not affect men: 

• Pregnancy: High blood pressure during pregnancy raises the danger of a stroke.

• Birth control pills: Oral contraceptives can double your stroke risk, especially if you smoke.

• Hormone replacement therapy: Using hormones to manage menopause symptoms increases risk.

• Migraines: Having migraines with a visual aura raises stroke chances.

• Atrial fibrillation: This irregular heartbeat is more common and dangerous in older women. 

Warning Signs

Use the B.E. F.A.S.T. guide to spot a stroke fast: 

• B - Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.

• E - Eyes: Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes.

• F - Face: One side of the face droops.

• A - Arm: One arm is weak or numb.

• S - Speech: Speech is slurred or hard to understand.

• T - Time: Call 911 immediately if you see these signs. 

Women can also experience less typical signs like sudden confusion, extreme tiredness, trouble breathing, or fainting. You can learn more about these risks through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Northwestern Medicine.