CIDPUSA.ORG

While the exact reasons for the imbalance aren't clear, the research team at the University of California at Los Angeles speculated from the study of more than 17,000 people over age 18 that increasing waistlines, stress may be at least partly to blame for the increased stroke risk in middle-aged women.

"Women have more complications from obesity than men, in general," said lead study author Dr. Amytis Towfighi. "So this widening in stroke rates might reflect the impact of this growing obesity epidemic in the U.S."

Another thing the researchers discovered is that women aged 35 to 64 tended to experience a high rate of increase in their blood pressure and cholesterol.  Women need to relax,

"Heart disease is correlated with increased abdominal girth and stress," said Dr. Lynne Perry Bottinger, a cardiologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital, on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday. "Look at the ratio of your waist to hips… Women with bigger waist sizes have a greater risk of heart disease.

Strokes Not Just for Older Women

A stroke -- sometimes known as a "brain attack" -- happens when a blood vessel leading to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, blood flow is cut off to the brain, leading to brain damage.

Depending on where this damage occurs, different abilities such as speech, movement and memory may be affected.

Though the fact remains that strokes most often occur in women age 65 and over, increasing girth may put additional stress on a woman's system, leading to earlier problems.

And it's not just any weight. The extra pounds in women at risk take the form of deep abdominal fat -- otherwise known as visceral fat -- which increases the risk of diabetes and cholesterol.

"Large waist size has been shown to be a predictor of stroke under 65 .

"Women have unique risk factors such as pregnancy, birth control and hormone replacement," she said.

Stroke Worthy of Women's Worry

"Most women think of stroke as an old woman's disease and breast cancer as a young woman's disease," Bottinger said. "Two times as many women die of stroke than breast cancer. Still, 10 times as many women will die of cardiovascular disease than breast cancer.

"Both women and general practitioners underestimate women's heart problems,"  doctors feel men are at higher risk."

So how can women protect themselves? It appears that the single most important thing women can do is to watch their weight.

Women should "keep their weight in line," Bottinger said.

"Keep that waist size less than 35 inches! Low-cal and low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet. Exercise daily for 30 minutes," she said.

Women in this age group must also be diligent in keeping their regular appointments with their doctors, Towfighi said.

"It's really important to pay attention to the risk factors at an earlier age," she said. "Starting in the 30s, we suggest regular checkups with your physician. We recommend lifestyle changes like a heart-healthy diet and exercise 30 minutes a day." Olive oil is a must use it avoids strokes,