Women who start their period before 10 years old, or enter the menopause younger than 45, have an increased risk of suffering a stroke, new research suggests.
Menstruating before the age of 13 is often caused by obesity, which also puts individuals at a higher risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke, a study review found.
The menopause is associated with a decline in heart-protective hormones, such as oestrogen, which prevents fats from circulating in the bloodstream and raising women’s stroke risk, the research adds.
Experiencing hot flushes prematurely could mean women lack these protective hormones for longer than the average female, raising their risk of a blood clot in the brain.
Fluctuating hormones during the menopause also increase so-called ‘bad cholesterol’ levels, further boosting such women’s risk, the research adds.
Study author Dr Kathryn Rexrode from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said: ‘These women should be monitored carefully and they should be aware that they are at higher risk, and motivated to adhere to the healthiest lifestyle behaviors to decrease the risk of hypertension and subsequent stroke.’
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in women in the US, with 55,000 more females suffering than men every year.
Women who start the menopause before 45 have an increased risk of suffering a stroke (stock)
What else increases women’s stroke risk?
Results further reveal taking oestrogen-based oral contraceptives raises the risk of a stroke by up to 80 percent, regardless of the amount of the hormone they contain.
This is thought to be due to their clotting side effect, which increases the likelihood of a deposit blocking blood flow in the brain.
Pregnancy is also linked to stroke with women being up to nine times more likely to suffer an incident in the period between two days before giving birth and one day after.
This is thought to be due to eclampsia, which causes convulsions in pregnant women with high blood pressure and is responsible for up to 48 percent of strokes in expectant mothers.
The researchers conducted the review by analysing past studies investigating strokes in women.
Their findings were published in the journal Stroke.
Can supplements aid stroke recovery?
An over-the-counter supplement found on the High Street boosts memory, muscle strength and speech in stroke survivors, research suggested in December last year.
The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba, which is also thought to relieve depression and headaches, prevents cell death in the brain by improving its blood flow, previous studies imply.
When taken with aspirin, which prevents further clots by thinning the blood, ginkgo biloba also improves stroke sufferers’ attention, reflexes and language skills in as little as 12 weeks, the newer research adds.
Ginkgo biloba, which is sold for around £4.99 for 30 tablets from Holland & Barrett, also causes few side effects, the study found.
In the US, the supplements are available in Walgreens, Walmart and CVS for approximately $8.99 for 500mg.
Dr Yun Xu from Nanjing University in China, said: ‘In the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA, Ginkgo biloba extract is a commercially available food supplement available without prescription.
‘The study demonstrated patients with stroke who received ginkgo biloba extract manifested better memory function, executive functions, neurological function and daily life.’