![blood pressure chart for women blood pressure chart for women](https://image.shutterstock.com/image-vector/blood-pressure-chart-260nw-796872802.jpg)
Eating too much salt or sodium can raise your blood pressure, putting you at higher risk of stroke.African American women are diagnosed with higher rates of obesity (nearly 3 in 5) and diabetes (more than 1 in 8), conditions that increase the risk for stroke.More than 2 in 5 African American women are diagnosed high blood pressure (greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg), which is a much higher rate than white women have.7Īlmost half of African Americans have a risk factor that can lead to a stroke. 2 African Americans have the highest rate of death due to stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death among African American women, and they are more likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white women or Hispanics in the United States. She encourages all women to advocate for their health. Why are African American women at higher risk for stroke?Īlyson McCord struggled to control her high blood pressure for years and eventually had a stroke. Using certain types of birth control medicines, especially if they also smoke.Women also have unique risk factors for stroke, including: Stroke risk increases with age, and women live longer than men. 4 Only about 1 in 4 of those women have their blood pressure controlled to below 130/80 mmHg. More than 2 in 5 women have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mmHg or are taking medicine to control their blood pressure. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a main risk factor for stroke. A delay in treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death. Some treatments for stroke work only if given within the first 3 hours after symptoms start. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible (see sidebar). When brain cells are starved of blood, they die. Blood carries oxygen to cells in the body.
BLOOD PRESSURE CHART FOR WOMEN DOWNLOAD
Download icon Download Image What is a stroke?Ī stroke happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.