Are you at risk for a stroke? The answer may surprise you. While we often think of strokes as an illness that occur in the elderly, a stroke can happen to a person of any age. Recently, women with no previous health issues, have suffered from Nuvaring stroke side effects after using this birth control product.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is sometimes called a “brain attack.” Just as a heart attack occurs when oxygen-rich blood is blocked from the heart, a stroke occurs when blood cannot reach the brain. Without the oxygen and nutrients from the blood, brain cells begin to die.
A stroke can occur in two forms: hemorrhagic or ischemic. In a hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in the brain expands and ruptures. Areas in the brain may fill with blood, creating cranial pressure. Since the blood from the blood vessel is not reaching the intended brain cells, the cells begin to die.
The majority of strokes are ischemic strokes, which can occur when a blood clot from some part of the body goes into the bloodstream and enters the brain, blocking blood flow to the brain cells.
The severity of a stroke depends on where the stroke occurs and how much of the brain is damaged.
Signs of a Stroke while using Nuvaring
Strokes may range from mild to severe. A person who suffering from a stroke may notice sudden weakness in his arm or leg. One side of the face may droop, or speech may be slurred. He or she may be confused, have blurred vision, a severe headache or dizziness. If any of these symptoms occur, it is essential to get immediate medical care. The earlier doctors can detect a stroke, the better chance they have of minimizing the damage to the brain.
Who is at risk?
As the third leading cause of death in the United States, and a main cause of disability, it is helpful to understand and minimize risk factors. People who are 55 or older have a higher risk, as do those with a family history of strokes, or who have suffered a previous stroke. Men have a higher risk of having a stroke, however women have a higher risk of fatality following a stroke.
Some risk factors can be minimized through lifestyle changes. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and obesity can increase stroke risks. Fortunately, in many situations, these can also be controlled through diet, exercise and medication. For women, the use of certain contraceptives can increase the risk of stroke. Some birth control users suffered life-threatening and even fatal strokes as a result of using NuvaRing birth control ring. One of the hormones in NuvaRing, desogestrel, is believed to affect the clotting of the blood, leading to strokes and other medical conditions. If you are concerned about your chances of having a stroke, talk to your doctor about ways to minimize your risk and maximize your health.
Author Resource:
David Whitney is author of this article on Nuvaring Attorney .
Find more information about Nuvaring Side Effects here.