Live births may reduce stroke risk in women

Women who have more children may have a reduced risk of stroke. In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers found that that the number of live births reduced both ischemic strokes and more serious intracerebral hemorrhages. The link was observed “even after accounting for age and vascular risk factors,” with researchers adding that increased estrogen produced during pregnancy could have a “neuroprotective effect” against stroke. Fifty-seven percent of all strokes in the United States occur in women and it’s estimated that more than 68,000 women will die from a stroke by the year 2050.