Women and Stroke in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Stroke is a major health concern for women in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan. Understanding your risk and recognizing symptoms early can save your life or the life of someone you love.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes.

There are two main types of stroke:

  • Ischemic stroke (most common)

    • Caused by a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain
    • Often due to a blood clot or buildup of fatty deposits (plaque)

  • Hemorrhagic stroke

    • Caused by a blood vessel in the brain bursting and bleeding into or around the brain
    • Includes conditions like cerebral aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage

Most strokes in women in Grand Rapids will be ischemic strokes, but both types are medical emergencies.

Why Stroke Is a Serious Issue for Women

Although both men and women have strokes, research shows that:

  • More women than men die from stroke
  • Women tend to have strokes at an older age, which often leads to more severe disability
  • Women carry much of the caregiving burden for loved ones who have had a stroke, increasing stress and health risks

In the Grand Rapids area, with an aging population and long winters that can reduce physical activity, stroke prevention in women is especially important.

Women as Caregivers and Stroke Risk

About three in four caregivers of stroke survivors are women. Many women in Grand Rapids care for aging parents, spouses, or relatives after a stroke.

This caregiving role can:

  • Increase stress and fatigue
  • Reduce time for self-care, exercise, and medical checkups
  • Raise the risk of depression and other health problems

Over time, these factors can increase a woman’s own risk of stroke. If you are a caregiver in Grand Rapids, it’s important to use local resources such as:

  • Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids caregiver support programs
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for community resources and support groups

Stroke Risk Factors Specific to Women

Women have some unique, gender-specific stroke risks in addition to the usual risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Migraine With Aura

Women are more likely than men to experience migraines with aura, which may include:

  • Flashing lights
  • Blind spots
  • Trouble focusing or visual distortions

When combined with smoking or certain oral contraceptive pills, migraine with aura can significantly increase the risk of stroke.

Hormonal Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills)

Some types of oral contraceptive pills can slightly increase the risk of blood clots and stroke, especially in women who:

  • Smoke
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have a history of blood clots or migraine with aura
  • Are older than 35

If you live in Grand Rapids and use hormonal birth control, talk with your primary care provider or OB/GYN at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health about your personal stroke risk.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

Stroke is uncommon in pregnancy, but pregnancy is still a risk factor, especially if you have:

  • High blood pressure
  • Preeclampsia (high blood pressure with signs of organ damage during pregnancy)
  • A history of blood clots
  • Underlying heart or autoimmune disease

The risk of stroke is:

  • Higher in the third trimester
  • Increased for about 3 months after giving birth

Hormonal changes during pregnancy and after delivery can increase the tendency for blood to clot, which may raise stroke risk in some women.

If you are pregnant or recently delivered at a Grand Rapids hospital (such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health), make sure to:

  • Attend all prenatal and postpartum visits
  • Report severe headaches, vision changes, chest pain, or sudden neurologic symptoms immediately

Aneurysm and Brain Bleeding

Women are more likely than men to experience:

  • Cerebral aneurysm (a weak, bulging area in a brain artery that can burst)
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (a specific type of bleeding in the space around the brain)

These conditions can cause a sudden, severe “worst headache of your life” and require immediate emergency care.

Common Causes and Risk Factors for Stroke in Women

Key stroke risk factors for women include:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Smoking
  • Obesity and physical inactivity (especially during long Michigan winters)
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Migraine with aura
  • Use of some types of oral contraceptive pills
  • Pregnancy and postpartum period
  • Preeclampsia
  • Family history of stroke or blood clots
  • Atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm)

In West Michigan, cold weather and icy conditions can limit outdoor activity in winter, making it easier to gain weight and harder to manage blood pressure and cholesterol. Planning indoor exercise and healthy eating is especially important during the winter months in Grand Rapids.

How Women in Grand Rapids Can Lower Stroke Risk

Many strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes and proper medical care.

Lifestyle Changes

To reduce your risk of stroke:

  • Quit smoking

    • Ask your doctor about smoking cessation programs
    • Use Michigan Tobacco Quitline and local support groups in Grand Rapids

  • Maintain a healthy weight

    • Choose a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins
    • Limit salt, saturated fat, and sugary drinks

  • Exercise regularly

    • Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week
    • In winter, consider indoor options: walking at local malls, using home exercise videos, or joining a fitness center

  • Limit alcohol use

    • Excessive drinking increases blood pressure and stroke risk

Medical Care and Monitoring

Work with your healthcare provider to:

  • Control blood pressure
  • Manage diabetes and cholesterol
  • Review the safety of birth control methods or hormone therapy
  • Monitor migraine with aura and discuss stroke risk
  • Manage atrial fibrillation or other heart conditions

Women in Grand Rapids can access stroke prevention and primary care through:

  • Spectrum Health
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Mercy Health
  • Local clinics and community health centers supported by the Kent County Health Department

Recognizing Stroke Symptoms: Think F.A.S.T.

Stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate treatment at a hospital can reduce brain damage and improve recovery. In Grand Rapids, major stroke care is available at hospitals such as Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to remember the most common signs of stroke:

  • F – Face:

    • Ask the person to smile.
    • Does one side of the face droop?

  • A – Arms:

    • Ask the person to raise both arms.
    • Does one arm drift downward or feel weak?

  • S – Speech:

    • Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
    • Is their speech slurred, strange, or hard to understand?

  • T – Time:

    • Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, even if they go away, call 911 immediately.

Other Possible Stroke Symptoms

Women may also experience:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side
  • Sudden confusion or trouble understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you suddenly experience any of these symptoms, do not drive yourself. Call 911 so emergency medical services can start treatment on the way to the hospital.

What to Do in a Stroke Emergency in Grand Rapids

If you think you or someone else is having a stroke:

  1. Call 911 immediately
  2. Tell the operator you suspect a stroke
  3. Note the time symptoms started or when the person was last seen well
  4. Do not give food, drink, or medication unless instructed by emergency personnel

Emergency departments at local hospitals in Grand Rapids are equipped to assess and treat stroke. Rapid treatment can include clot-busting medications or other interventions, but these are time-sensitive.

Local Resources for Women’s Stroke Care in Grand Rapids

For information, prevention, and follow-up care, women in Grand Rapids can use:

  • Your primary care provider or OB/GYN

  • Emergency departments at:

    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health

  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health

    • Community education on heart disease and stroke
    • Support for smoking cessation, nutrition, and physical activity

Always call 911 in an emergency. For non-emergency questions about your risk, symptoms, or medications, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Key Points About Women and Stroke

  • A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, starving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients.
  • Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke and are more likely to die from stroke than men.
  • Stroke is uncommon in pregnancy, but risk increases in the third trimester and for 3 months after birth, especially with high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
  • Making lifestyle changes—quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and managing blood pressure—can largely prevent stroke in women.
  • Recognizing stroke symptoms with F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) and calling 911 immediately is critical for the best possible outcome.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are concerned about your stroke risk, talk with your healthcare provider about a personalized prevention plan and available local resources.