Skip to main content
  • English
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • site search Search
    Search
  • Heart Disease in Women
  • Know Your Risk
  • Healthy Living
  • Stages of Life
  • Get Involved
  • About Us
  • In Your Community
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español
  1. Home
  2. About Heart Disease in Women
  3. Class of Survivors
  4. Tamika Quinn

Real Woman Alumni 2017-2018 Tamika Quinn

Tamika Quinn

If you’re like many women, chances are you go to great lengths not to burden those around you. But the signs of stroke demand immediate attention.

Ten days after Tamika Quinn‘s daughter Sequoia was born, she woke up with an excruciating headache. Her regular doctor wasn’t available so she went to an urgent care clinic where she was given painkillers and medication for high blood pressure. The pain intensified, so Tamika went to the ER where she was diagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke, followed by a second stroke three days later.

It took months for Tamika to recover her ability to walk and speak, and she continues to deal with long- and short-term memory loss and muscle control.

The strokes were a wake-up call to take her health more seriously. She took her medication as prescribed and lost weight.

But after four years, Tamika went back to overeating and eating unhealthy foods, and not taking her blood pressure medication. After talking to her doctor about a migraine, Tamika learned her blood pressure had gone back up.

“My doctor told me I was headed down the path to have another stroke,” she said. “I realized I needed to get my life together.”

Signs that you may be having a stroke:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

You should never wait more than five minutes to dial 9-1-1 if you experience even one of the signs above. Remember, you could be having a stroke even if you’re not experiencing all of the symptoms. And remember to check the time. The responding emergency medical technician or ER nurse at the hospital will need to know when the first symptom occurred.

Stroke is not only the No. 4 cause of death in the United States, it’s also a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. That’s why it’s important to take action immediately. Research conducted by The American Stroke Association shows that patients who take a clot-busting drug, or thrombolytic, within three hours of their first stroke symptom can reduce long-term disability from ischemic stroke – the most common type, accounting for about 87 percent of all cases.

When you know the signs of stroke, the life you save could be your own or someone else’s. Learn to spot the signs of stroke, or spot a stroke F.A.S.T. (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911).

Learn more about your risk for heart disease and stroke as well as factors that increase your risk.


Last Reviewed: Sep 2, 2020

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

About Heart Disease in Women

About Heart Disease in Women
  • Class of Survivors
    • Alison Conklin
    • Andrea Alexander
    • Bre Khounphinith
    • Brittney Saunders Graves
    • Heather Baker
    • Melissa Ziebell
    • Molly McGuire
    • Rajini Poth
    • Robin Eaton
    • Taelur Littlejohn
    • Tania Saiz
    • Victoria Rodriguez
  • Facts
    • Atherosclerosis and Stroke
    • Causes and Prevention of Heart Disease
    • Common Myths About Heart Disease
    • CPR and Women
    • CPR Can Save a Woman's Life
    • Facts, Causes and Risks of Stroke
    • Heart Disease and Stroke in Black Women
    • Heart Disease in Hispanic Women
    • Heart Disease Linked to Dementia in Women
    • Sex and Heart Disease
    • Understanding Congenital Heart Defects
    • Women and Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD)
    • Women Are More Likely to Die Than Men From Heart Attack
    • Women Veterans and Heart Health
    • Women Who Made History in Cardiology
    • Women's Month Highlights the Haunting Reality of Heart Disease
  • Latest Research
    • African-American Risk Detection Increases
    • Anxiety Linked to Long Term Stroke Risk
    • Exercise Could Lower High Blood Pressure Risk
    • Go Red Strategically Focused Research Network
    • Insomnia May Significantly Raise Stroke Risk
    • Keeping Kids Healthy at Home During Coronavirus
    • Menopause Drug May Increase Blood Clot Risk
    • Positive Patients Exercise Live Longer
    • Why is Heart Disease Research in Women Critical?
    • The State of US Women's Heart Health
    • Netherlands Study Shows Women Arrive Late and Don’t get Best Treatment
    • Women Fare Worse Than Men After Heart Attack
    • Women, the Flu Vaccine and COVID-19
    • Women Not Represented in Research Equally
    • Women's Research Funding
  • Living with Cardiovascular Disease
    • 11 Ways to Ease Back into Fitness
    • Caring for Someone Who Has Had a Stroke
    • Caring for Someone with Heart Disease
    • CMD Survivor Encourages Women to Advocate for Themselves
    • Depression and Heart Disease
    • Heart Strong Heroes
    • Her parents taught her grit caring for others Thrive Article
    • How to Find the Right Cardiologist
    • How to Stay Positive During Heart Disease Treatment
    • How to Stay Social After Heart Disease
    • How to Support a Friend With Heart Disease
    • How to Talk to Your Kids About Heart Disease
    • Living With Heart Disease You're Not Alone
    • Managing Heart Disease
    • Recovering From Heart Disease
    • Sex and Heart Disease: Life After Heart Attack
    • Sex and Heart Disease How to Get in the Mood Post Diagnosis
    • Star Jones continues to sound the alarm about heart disease
    • Statins May Benefit More People
    • Surgery fixed her heart Controlling her thoughts helped her cope
    • Tips for Taking Heart Medications
    • Tips to Combat Depression After a Stroke
    • Understanding Your Heart Diagnosis
    • Volunteer spotlight Dr Suzanne Steinbaum
    • Working Out Safely After a Heart Attack
  • Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
    • Diabetes and Heart Disease
    • Good Nutrition Defense Against Heart Disease
    • How to Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
    • Exercise to Prevent Heart Disease
    • Heart Doctor Explains Cholesterol Levels
  • Warning Signs and Symptoms
    • Common Questions about Heart Attack in Women
    • Just a Little Heart Attack Video
    • Learn Hands-Only CPR
    • What is a Silent Heart Attack?
    • Symptoms of a Heart Attack in Women
    • Symptoms of a Stroke in Women
  • Women and CPR

Related Articles

close-up of couple holding hands

Symptoms of a Stroke in Women

Three happy women taking selfie.

Sign up for the Go Red for Women newsletter and connect to the world of women’s health. Put yourself at the top of your to-do list with our resources tailored to women’s unique health and wellness needs.

 

Go Red for health, Go Red for life, Go Red for good, Go Red for Women.

NOTE: All fields required unless indicated as optional.

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates
×
American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.