Stroke

Strokes are caused by a clot that blocks blood from getting to the brain or bleeding in the brain caused by a burst blood vessel. Stroke victims may experience problems with speech, comprehension, physical activity and normal daily tasks.
People are more likely to have a stroke if someone in their immediate family has had one. Risk factors specific to women may include:
- Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy, childbirth and menopause
- Smoking while on the pill, especially for women older than 35
- Compared to white women, African American women have more strokes and have a higher risk of disability and death from stroke
What you can do to help prevent a stroke
Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. Consider taking the following steps to help reduce your chances of having a stroke:
- Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Get regular cholesterol screenings once every five years for women 45 and older.
- Monitor your blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked every time you see your doctor. Target blood pressure is 120/80.
- Control your diabetes. If you have diabetes, work with your doctor to keep your blood sugars under control.
- Quit smoking. Smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely to have a stroke than nonsmokers. In addition, women older than 35 who take birth control are at much greater risk for having a stroke.
- Exercise. Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity each day can help control cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and blood pressure.
- Eat healthfully. Pay attention to the food groups include plenty of whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Avoid excess saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and sugar.
- Keep a healthy weight. Staying within the healthy weight range for your height reduces your risk for high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
- Manage stress and anger. Set realistic goals, maintain healthy relationships and use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and stretching.
- Drink in moderation. Heavy drinking increases the risk of a stroke.
- Talk to your doctor about aspirin therapy. People at high risk for a stroke may benefit from a daily dose of aspirin.
- Learn the symptoms of a stroke. Knowing the symptoms may help you seek treatment more quickly, possibly preventing a stroke or lessening its effects. Symptoms may include sudden:
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body in your face, arm, or leg
- Confusion, comprehension or speaking problems
- Trouble seeing
- Loss of balance, dizziness, trouble walking or general weakness
- Severe headache
- Shortness of breath or chest palpitations
How to talk to your doctor
Before you talk to your doctor, make sure you're familiar with the risk factors and ways to prevent a stroke.
- Tell your doctor about your risk factors and discuss any illnesses, ongoing health concerns and family medical history
- Get blood pressure and cholesterol screenings regularly
- Follow your doctor's instructions for managing health conditions that put you at risk for a stroke
How UnitedHealthcare can help
Use UnitedHealthcare's tools and resources to help you address strokes.
Log in to myuhc.com®
| myuhc.com resource | How it helps | How to find it |
| Personal Health Record | Monitor your heart health. | myuhc.com → Health & Wellness → Personal Health Record |
| Online Health Coach | Make healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent a stroke. | myuhc.com → Health & Wellness → Online Health Coach |
| Stroke Quiz | Determine your risk factors for having a stroke. | myuhc.com → Health & Wellness → Tools → Quizzes → Stroke |
| Health Discounts | Take advantage of exclusive health discounts for services like nutrition counseling, fitness club memberships, stress reduction and relaxation resources and smoking cessation programs through the UnitedHealth Allies discount program. | myuhc.com → Extra Programs & Discounts |