Calls to change how stroke research is done for women
Women are disproportionally affected by strokes. More women die from them, have worse outcomes and face more challenges when recovering, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Margie Hesom was one of those women who suffered a stroke. She had one over a year ago after a surgery.
“My friend was coming around to take me to have my stitches out. I was in bed, so I got up and I was going to say hi and I collapsed,” said Hesom.
Hesom, who is a family physician, was walking again after 11 days, but today she is still trying to recoup her right hand and her speech.
“I am used to taking care of my family, and now they have to take care of me.”
According to the 2018 Stroke Report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, one-third more women die of a stroke than men.
Researchers don’t have all the answers of why this is, but there is a push to change how stroke research is done.
“One of the thoughts is that post-menopausal, they no longer have estrogen and progesterone, which are neuroprotective,” said Nicole Sylvain, who is a clinical research coordinator and lab manager at the University of Saskatchewan.
She said one change she wants to see is early research done on animals like mice. Currently the research is only done in male mice. She wants to see pre-clinical research involving both male and female rodents, something her lab has already done. They found female mice have more glycogen in their brains, which is a sugar-like substance in blood that feeds cells.
“The take home message for our group is it is really important to actually do the research on both male and females pre-clinically, to make sure we don’t miss anything.”
Additionally, findings like this may also lead to better treatment plans to make sure anyone who has a stroke doesn’t miss out on anything either.
“If I had been a man, I would’ve been put on blood thinners, but I was a woman so I was deemed to be low risk,” said Hesom.
Hesom is now working to advocate for better stroke recovery, saying she knows women are disproportionally affected and they need to be studied more.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.