The Events Calendar – Dynamic template

I never imagined that, at 43, I would be the one writing about strokes. However, in September of last year, immediately following my daughter’s departure for school, I began to feel strange for reasons I couldn’t pinpoint. There was no slurred speech or drooping of the face, unlike the typical stroke signs seen on television. Instead, I felt a wave of nausea, a strange, lingering hiccup, and a fatigue that made me want to lie down wherever I was. I nearly persuaded myself that it was simply stress or perhaps something I had eaten. However, I had a gut feeling that this wasn’t typical. The nurse at urgent care seemed to concur with my initial hypothesis: stress. She advised me to relax and possibly sip some water. However, I persisted in seeking additional assistance because I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that something was seriously amiss. I ended up in the emergency room as a result, and after several scans and a lengthy wait, a doctor informed me that I had suffered a minor ischemic stroke. “But I’m too young for this,” I recall thinking. I eat salads and practice yoga. Shouldn’t older men experience this? The problem is that a lot of the information we hear about heart attacks and strokes focuses on men. The risk factors, the warning signs, even the research and training of physicians. The fact that women’s bodies don’t always fit the textbook was something I discovered the hard way. We may find symptoms more subdued, unfamiliar, and simple to ignore. Although they are rarely discussed, symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, abrupt fatigue, and even hiccups can all be indicators of a stroke in women. I wonder how many women simply go home and hope it goes away, but I was fortunate that I persisted in insisting something was wrong. I began reading more about the effects of cardiovascular disease on women after my stroke. Despite being the leading cause of death for women—even more so than all cancers combined—you wouldn’t know it based on the way we discuss health. Following a stroke, women are more likely to die and experience long-term disabilities. Additionally, if we are younger or don’t look like the “typical” patient, we are more likely to have our symptoms dismissed as anxiety or indigestion. Since then, I’ve made some changes. I have a list of stroke symptoms on my refrigerator, but I added a note to remind myself (and my family) that hiccups, strange fatigue, or sudden nausea can be just as significant as slurred speech or face drooping. Even though it seems a little ridiculous at times, I now check my blood pressure and cholesterol annually. I began keeping a card with my medical records and a note about my stroke in my wallet as a precaution. I’ve also learned to speak up, even if I’m afraid of coming across as dramatic, if I think something is wrong. Despite the discomfort, I also discuss it more. One of my friends discovered that her nighttime jaw pain was actually a heart issue after I told my book club. The more we tell our stories, the more we support one another in realizing that women can and do experience these things, and that our symptoms are important. Please listen to it if you’re reading this and you ever experience an unexpected, odd sensation in your body. Don’t stress over bothering people or wasting their time. Every minute counts when it comes to heart attacks and strokes. I was fortunate to receive assistance promptly, and I’ve largely recovered. However, I am aware that not everyone is as fortunate, particularly when our bodies don’t cooperate. My small piece of advice is to speak up, trust yourself, and don’t be scared to make noise if necessary. Women’s voices are still being heard by our health system, but it will improve the more we speak up. I understand how important it is to be heard, so I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to about it.