Skip left navigation

Home > A-Z Health Topics > Minority Women's Health > Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders > Stroke

Stroke

• More information on stroke

A stroke occurs when part of your brain doesn't get the blood that it needs. Depending on the parts of the brain damaged by a stroke, people who survive a stroke can have problems with:

• Movement
• Sensations
• Language
• Thinking and memory
• Emotions

A stroke happens fast. The most common signs of stroke are sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
• Confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
• Very bad headache with no known cause

Women may also have other sudden symptoms, such as feeling sick to your stomach, face and arm or leg pain, hiccups, feeling very tired, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heartbeat.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911. Getting treatment within three hours from the start of symptoms increases your chances of walking away from a stroke with few or no disabilities.

Stroke is a leading cause of death for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. This is partly because many of the risk factors for stroke are common among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. These risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Lack of physical activity

Take these steps to lower your risk of stroke:

• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
    and
    
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week
• Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Follow your doctor's orders to keep your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels under control.

Return to top

More information on stroke

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Stroke Fact Sheet — This fact sheet answers questions about stroke, including information about warning signs, effects, and risk factors.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/stroke.cfm

Explore other publications and websites

• Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke — This brochure provides information on stroke prevention. It includes stroke warning signs, an explanation of risk factors, and a description of treatable risk factors.
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm
• Caring for Someone After a Stroke (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This fact sheet provides information on what a caregiver's role is when caring for someone who has had a stroke. It also provides information on where to go for help if you are feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities.
  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Caregiver/Resources/CaringforSomeoneAfterStroke/Caring-for-Someone-After-Stroke_UCM_301860_Article.jsp
• Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Be Active for a Healthy Heart — This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet explains the importance of daily physical activity in the prevention of heart disease.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-pa.pdf
• Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. — This publication features information on what a stroke is, the signs and symptoms of stroke, and what can be done to prevent a stroke.
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

Connect with other organizations

• American Stroke Association
  http://www.strokeassociation.org
• CDC's WISEWOMAN — Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
  http://www.cdc.gov/wisewoman/
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

Email Print

Return to top