What Women Need to Know About Strokes

Every year, strokes kill twice as many women as breast cancer. What's more, women can have different stroke symptoms than men. Some women get hiccups, hallucinations, and maybe sick to their stomachs.

Some signs women and men have in common are dizziness, headaches, confusion, and numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg. Women also have different risk factors, even if they're younger than 55.

If you take birth control pills, you are twice as likely to have a stroke. You should be checked for high blood pressure even before going on low estrogen pills. Pregnancy related high blood pressure could also raise your risk. If you get migraines with visual disturbances, you can be 10 times more likely to have a stroke.

And if you're depressed or under a lot of stress, that also raises your risk. According to the CDC, 80% of strokes are preventable, so know the risks and the symptoms.