A recent study has unveiled a potential link between stress and the risk of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS), with particular emphasis on its impact on women. The study assessed 426 patients who had experienced CIS, comparing their stress levels to a control group of 426 individuals matched by age and sex. The findings indicated that 46% of stroke survivors reported moderate-to-high stress levels, against 33% of those who had not suffered a stroke.
The research used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure stress levels, assigning participants a score ranging from 0–13 for low stress, 14–26 for moderate stress, and 27–40 for high stress. The significant difference in stress levels between stroke survivors and the control group suggests stress as a contributing factor to stroke, especially among women.
Stress as a Contributing Factor
The study highlighted the potential role of stress as a risk factor for stroke. Carolyn Cronin, MD, PhD, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, noted the importance of this research in understanding the connection between stress and stroke. However, she cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions due to the small number of patients reporting high-stress levels.
“That analysis probably isn’t worth doing because there were not very many patients that reported the high-stress category. So, with the small numbers there, I don’t know that we can really draw many conclusions from that,” – Carolyn Cronin, MD, PhD
This statement underscores the need for further research to solidify these findings and better understand stress's impact on stroke risk.
Gender Differences in Stroke Risk
The study also revealed significant gender differences in how stress affects stroke risk. Christina Mijalski Sells, MD, from Stanford Medicine, emphasized these disparities throughout life.
“This study highlights the importance of recognizing that there are significant gender differences that affect stroke risk throughout life,” – Christina Mijalski Sells, MD
Women, particularly those with caregiving responsibilities, may be more susceptible to stress, thus increasing their stroke risk. Nicolas Martinez-Majander, MD, PhD, from Helsinki University Hospital, stressed the necessity for more research to comprehend why stressed women appear at higher risk than men.
“More research is needed to understand why women who feel stressed, but not men, may have a higher risk of stroke,” – Nicolas Martinez-Majander, MD, PhD
Implications for Women's Cardiovascular Health
Sarah Lindsey, PhD, from Tulane University School of Medicine, remarked on this pioneering finding that stress might lessen the protective cardiovascular benefits typically observed in females.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time this has really been shown: that maybe stress itself can be another factor that lessens the protection that females normally have for cardiovascular disease,” – Sarah Lindsey, PhD
These insights call attention to the broader implications of stress management in preventing strokes among women.
Leave a Reply