Women in Ireland are much more likely to die from stroke than men, new figures have revealed.

According to provisional figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), in 2013, 42% more women died from stroke than men. In some counties, such as Sligo, Carlow and Clare, the number of women dying from stroke was almost double that of men, while in Laois, the figure was three times higher.

Just two counties in the entire country recorded a higher stroke mortality among men - Kilkenny and Leitrim.

The figures were highlighted by the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) as part of National Stroke Week, which runs from March 23 to 29.

Some 10,000 people suffer a stroke every year in Ireland and around 2,000 die as a result. According to IHF head of advocacy, Chris Macey, while stroke is Ireland's third biggest killer overall, ‘the higher death rate among women is not widely known'.

The main reason that more women die is because they live longer than men, which means they have a greater chance of suffering a stroke. However, other factors also play a role, such as a higher risk of stroke in women with atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to men.

AF is the most common form of irregular heartbeat and those affected are five times more likely to suffer a stroke than those without the condition. AF is also linked with strokes that tend to be more severe and are more likely to result in death.

People over the age of 50 are advised to undergo regular pulse checks to see if they have the condition.

"The good news is that acute stroke services in Ireland have undergone rapid improvement in recent years, which means that more people than ever are surviving stroke and getting their lives back in the aftermath.

"But to make the most of these enhanced services, it's vital that people get expert help as fast as possible. The average stroke destroys around two million brain cells every minute. So the quicker you get to hospital after a stroke, literally the more of your brain the doctors can save," explained Mr Macey.

He also emphasised that people can do a lot to prevent a stroke in the first place. Lifestyle changes, such as being more active, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation all have a major role to play.

"It is also crucial to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is estimated that 40% of strokes could be prevented through better control of blood pressure.

"The fact is that stroke kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer in Ireland and we are particularly asking women to be aware of the FAST warning signs during this year's National Stroke Week," he commented.

FAST stands for:
-Face - has the person's face fallen on one side?
-Arms - Can the person raise both their arms and keep them there?
-Speech - is the person's speech blurred?
-Time - it is time to call 999 if you see any of these signs.

This year's National Stroke Week includes a two-day stroke conference and a National Stroke Survivor Day, which will offer free workshops to survivors of stroke and their families. This event is free of charge, but registration is essential as places are limited. Email emorrissey@irishheart.ie or call Emma-Jane on (01) 668 5001.

For more general information on stroke, click here