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

There's a gender split in mini-stroke diagnosis

(Ponchai Soda/EyeEm, Getty Images)

Women are less likely to be diagnosed with a mini-stroke than men, and researchers are trying to figure out why.

A mini-stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA, usually doesn't last long or cause permanent damage. But it still requires medical attention, because it may be a warning of a future stroke that can have dire consequences.

Appropriate diagnosis is crucial, so the gender disparity is concerning. Studies have also found differences in the way men and women are treated for heart attack and in CPR emergencies.

"Unlike a heart attack, the diagnosis of TIA doesn't depend on a biomarker or a diagnostic test where you can definitely say this occurred," said Sophia Gocan, a stroke prevention nurse specialist at The Ottawa Hospital in Canada. She was lead author of the relevant study.

"It really relies on a stroke specialist's expertise to say if this was a concerning event," Gocan said. "That's important because the specialist's decision determines whether that patient is going to go on to have different diagnostic tests or be prescribed therapies to prevent a stroke."

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 150,000 people each year, and is a major cause of disability for those who survive. It occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, either by an artery that is blocked or ruptures. In a TIA, the blockage is only temporary, so some people may not notice it or ignore the dangers.
But the symptoms are the same, including numbness, severe headache, confusion, slurred speech and dizziness.

The researchers examined the records of 1,770 patients referred to The Ottawa Hospital Stroke Prevention Clinic in 2015 to see if men and women reporting common symptoms were diagnosed differently.

While many of the symptoms led to the same diagnosis in both men and women, the Ottawa study found several gender-specific differences.

Women over age 60 who reported a sudden onset of symptoms or an event lasting more than one minute were more likely than men to be diagnosed with TIA or stroke. But men who reported pain or sensory loss, such as trouble seeing, were more likely to receive the diagnosis than women.

"We know this is really just scratching the surface," Gocan said. "Maybe this is an indication that women need to use certain keywords when they're talking about their diagnosis to be taken as seriously, or maybe women and men describe their symptoms differently."

One factor in the disparity, Gocan said, could be that migraine headaches are more common among women. That might make women less likely to suspect a headache is signaling a TIA or stroke – or doctors more likely to consider a woman's headache a migraine.

"We've (medically) treated men and women the same for so many years," she said. "We need to make sure we're not painting everyone with the same brush when they may need a different approach."

Dr. Karen Furie, chair of neurology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, agreed and said the responsibility lies with both doctors and patients.
"If you have sudden onset of symptoms that can't be explained by something else, patients should ask if this could have been a TIA or stroke, and not be comfortable until the clinicians have been able to rule that out," Furie said.

 


Last Reviewed: Sep 8, 2021

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Beyond the Table

Beyond the Table
  • Stories
    • Sepsis is a serious but misunderstood heart threat
    • 10,000 steps a day: Uncovering the origin behind the popular walking goal
    • AED: a crucial tool in cardiac arrest
    • Beat the heat: Strategies to protect your heart and brain
    • Benefits of losing weight may abide even if pounds return
    • Cuff size matters in blood pressure readings
    • Do this and ward off both breast cancer and heart disease
    • Don’t ignore the quality of relationships when considering the link between good health and marriage
    • Eat healthier in 2023
    • Embrace the holiday spirit with these simple wellness strategies
    • Essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy linked to reduced risk of high blood pressure
    • Expert tips to help avoid holiday stress and stay healthy
    • It’s American Heart Month: What every woman should know about heart health
    • Fish oil supplements may be more popular than beneficial
    • Healthy substitutions elevate holiday drinks
    • High blood pressure during pregnancy poses risks for mother and child
    • Secondhand smoke worse for children than many people think
    • How the Body Roundness Index offers new insights into cardiovascular risk
    • How to fit walking into any schedule
    • Is winter dehydration sneaking up on you?
    • It’s American Heart Month: What every woman should know about heart health
    • It's never too early for a healthy diet
    • Learn CPR and be prepared to save a life anywhere
    • Less salt leads the changes in school lunches
    • Let music step up your exercise program
    • Lifestyle changes key to reducing increased risks for heart disease as women age
    • Millions of U.S. households with children affected by food insecurity, survey finds
    • Nearly 1 in 4 young U.S. adults
    • Not just extra calories: Sugary drinks may boost risk of heart disease
    • Research confirms link between early menopause, higher ischemic stroke risk
    • Secondhand smoke worse for children than many people think
    • Sip and snack: The best foods to boost your hydration
    • Spring into a new exercise routine
    • Spring into better health
    • Study narrows focus on pregnancy complications and stroke
    • Study reveals lower cardiac rehabilitation attendance among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults
    • Not just extra calories: Sugary drinks may boost risk of heart disease
    • Summer boredom can spark creativity and learning through play in kids
    • Teens targeted by e-cig industry on new path to nicotine addiction
    • The fight against youth vaping: Programs, research and school strategies
    • There's a gender split in mini-stroke diagnosis
    • This volunteer does better by doing good
    • Understanding seasonal depression and how to cope with it
    • Weigh the benefits of a regular bedtime
    • What people with heart conditions should know now about COVID-19
    • Lend an ear: Why corn on the cob belongs at your cookout
    • Women and men are (not quite) equals on heart transplants
    • Prioritizing care for others, women often neglect their own health
    • Women's quality of life after stroke is worse than men — age may be a major factor.
Mom and son cooking in kitchen

Join the Go Red for Women Movement and get our free Shop Smart, Eat Smart digital recipe booklet while supplies last!

Live your best life by learning your risk for heart disease and taking action to reduce it. We can help.

First Name Required

Last Name Required

Email Required

Zip Code Required

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.