By comparison with non-pregnant women of similar age, pregnant women have a mildly elevated stroke risk -- especially in the first six weeks after delivery, when the risk is approximately nine times greater than that of non pregnant women. This amounts to one woman in approximately 10,000 to 20,000 deliveries.
When they do occur, strokes tend to affect pregnant women who already suffer from the following conditions:
- Classic Stroke Risk Factors
- Lupus Erythematosus
- Antiphosholipid Antibody Syndrome
- Other Coagulopathies
- Eclampsia
- Preeclampsia
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Takayasu’s Disease
- Vasculitis
- Illicit Drug Use
Aside from strokes that occur in women who suffer from the above diseases or habits, other types of stroke occur specifically due to conditions related to pregnancy. These include:
- Choreocarcinoma
- Postpartum Cerebral Angiopathy, which is an inflammatory disease that affects the blood vessels in the brain, specifically after pregnancy
- Postpartum Cardiomyopathy
- Amniotic Fluid Embolus
How Can I Reduce Stroke Risk During and After Pregnancy?
The way to prevent strokes after pregnancy is very similar to the way to prevent strokes at any other time in life. For people with preexisting risk factors such as the ones described above, this may mean following up closely with a physician, possibly a vascular neurologist, immediately before, during, and for the first six weeks after pregnancy.This is especially important in women who already suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, as well as from blood clotting abnormalities. In some – though rare - cases, physicians may recommend stroke prevention with daily low-dose aspirin or with another type of blood thinner during and/or after pregnancy.
Of course, in the case that a stroke were to occur, awareness of stroke symptoms is a key aspect of getting prompt treatment, which can be life-saving.
Sources:
Bradley G Walter, Daroff B Robert, Fenichel M Gerald, Jancovic, Joseph Neurology in clinical practice, principles of diagnosis and management. Fourth Edition, Philadelphia Elsevier, 2004.
