Women have higher risk of stroke than men, says World Stroke Organisation
The World Stroke Organisation has said that
women have higher risks of stroke and are
more likely to die from it than men.
Mrs Gloria Ekeng, who is an executive
member of the Board of Directors, World
Stroke Organisation, said at an
awareness campaign programme in
Lagos on Saturday that the World Stroke
Organisation had warned that stroke was
being taken for granted.
She explained that there was the need to
intensify awareness on stroke as it had
many devastating effects.
She said “women are at higher lifetime
risk of stroke and one in five women
globally will experience a stroke in their
lifetime compared to one in six men.
“Other than their longer life expectancy,
women also have increased burden of
major stroke risk factors including
hypertension, irregular heartbeat,
diabetes, depression and obesity.
“Furthermore, specific risk factors and
settings in women include pregnancy,
the post-partum period and some
hormonal replacement therapies.
“That is why the thrust of this year’s
stroke awareness is on women with the
campaign theme: ‘I am woman, stroke
affects me.’’
Ekeng, who is also the Founder and Chief
Executive Officer of Stroke Care
International Nigeria, an NGO, said
stroke occurred when the blood supply to
part of a person’s brain was cut off.
She added that without blood, brain cells
could be damaged or dead; this damage
could have different effects, depending
on where it happened in the brain.
She said “stroke can affect the body and
mobility, speech, as well as how a person
thinks and feels; it also increases the risk
of dementia.
“This is particularly relevant to women,
given their greater lifetime stroke risk.
“Stroke is the number two cause of death
and a leading cause of disability
globally.’’
She noted that the campaign was in tune
with theme of the World Stroke
Organisation in support of women,
stroke and the implication for
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
Nigeria.
“There is the need to intensify the
awareness on stroke and its devastating
effects as many people take stroke for
granted.
“Stroke has been shown to have negative
impacts on the lives of Nigerians and the
country at large, contributing to great
manpower and economic loss.’’
Ekeng said a study by Akinpelu and
Gbiri on stroke, documented that
Nigerians had limited knowledge about
stroke and its implications.
She said the study documented that the
knowledge of Nigerians on stroke
warning signs, stroke prevention and
appropriate action to be taken when
there was stroke incidence was very low.
According to her, efforts must be
directed at improving the knowledge-
base of Nigerians on stroke and to also
train healthcare practitioners on the
appropriate management strategies.
“ This will go a long way in reducing the
menace of stroke in our society and its
attendant consequences,” she said.
She explained that Stroke Care
International hosted the fourth Nigeria
Stroke Assembly to commemorate the
2015 World Stroke Day on Oct. 29.
She said the NGO hosted the event in
collaboration with the Nigeria Stroke
Reference Group and the Federal
Ministry of Health.
“We as an organisation will continue to
drive the sensitisation on stroke, its
warning signs and its effects,” she
added.
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