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Women Experiencing Chronic Stress Are At An Increased Risk Of Stroke
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2025
A recent study published in Neurology on March 5 reveals that chronic stress may elevate the rsk of stroke in young adults, specifically among women.
Researchers have long recognized that stress adversely affects the cardiovascular system. Recently, they discovered that stress could serve as a risk factor for stroke in young adults, a concern that is increasingly relevant.
However, the new study indicates that stress may have a more pronounced impact on women's heart health in particular.
"This finding underscores how prolonged psychological stress can contribute to vascular dysfunction, highlighting the importance of stress management in stroke prevention," stated Lauren Patrick, MD, assistant professor of neurology and vascular neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, as reported in Health on Sunday, March 9.
Scientists aim to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between stress and early ischemic stroke, which is the most common type. This condition can occur when a blockage disrupts blood flow to the brain.
Previous research has identified several risk factors for stroke in younger individuals, including "traditional" risk factors such as high blood pressure and alcohol consumption, as well as "less well-documented" factors like stress, as explained by the study's authors.
To further investigate the connection between stroke and stress, the researchers recruited 426 individuals aged 18 to 49, all of whom had experienced ischemic strokes, with approximately half being women.
The team also included another group of 426 individuals who had never suffered a stroke but matched the age and gender of the first group.
All participants completed a questionnaire regarding their stress levels over the past month, and those in the stroke group answered additional questions about their stress levels leading up to the stroke.
