Women age 45 to 54 are twice as likely to have a stroke as men in the same age range, according to a recent study. Experts regard the data, collected by the University of California-Los Angeles, to be a wakeup call for more stroke-prevention efforts among aging women.

Traditionally, men have been thought to be at greater risk for stroke. The study of 17,000 Americans revealed that’s not the case for women in middle age. Scientists aren’t sure why this is, however. One theory is that physicians have not been paying as much attention to women’s risk factors for stroke. Use of hormone replacement therapy, reduced estrogen production or use of oral contraceptives may also play a role.

Sources: Medical journals and wire reports

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