Doctor Nguyen Huu Khanh, from the Neuroscience Center at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, explains that before menopause, estrogen maintains blood vessel wall elasticity, improves endothelial function, and helps control blood cholesterol. During menopause, the ovaries reduce estrogen production, making blood vessel walls less elastic, more rigid, and prone to damage. Concurrently, "bad" cholesterol (LDL) levels tend to rise, and "good" cholesterol (HDL) levels decrease after menopause, accelerating atherosclerosis. These plaques can narrow or block cerebral blood vessels, leading to ischemic stroke.

Postmenopausal women are prone to weight gain and visceral fat accumulation due to metabolic changes. This promotes the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia – all leading stroke risk factors. Prolonged high blood pressure thickens cerebral blood vessel walls, reducing elasticity and making them prone to rupture, which increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

According to Doctor Khanh, declining estrogen also affects blood clotting and inflammatory responses, making vascular endothelium vulnerable to damage and creating conditions for blood clot formation. If a blood clot travels to the brain or forms locally in a cerebral artery, the patient may suffer an acute cerebral infarction.

AI-integrated 100,000-slice CT scans help rapidly detect and diagnose microscopic brain lesions and vascular blockages. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital.

To prevent stroke, doctors recommend that postmenopausal women effectively manage blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily are crucial. Limiting salt, foods high in saturated fat, and processed items is also advised. Adequate sleep and stress reduction further contribute to protecting cerebral blood vessels.

Women aged 50 and above should maintain regular health check-ups. Depending on individual cases, doctors may recommend stroke screening through blood tests, ultrasound, brain CT scans, or brain MRI scans. These tools help identify early signs of cerebral ischemia or small asymptomatic infarctions. If cerebral vascular abnormalities are suspected, doctors may order a cerebral angiogram to determine any narrowing, blockage, or aneurysm.

If symptoms such as facial drooping, limb weakness, difficulty speaking, persistent dizziness, sudden severe headache, or altered consciousness appear, patients should seek immediate medical attention at a neurology specialist facility. Timely diagnosis and treatment reduce the risk of mortality and long-term complications.

Trong Nghia