42% more women than men dying from stroke

Forty-two percent more women than men die from stroke in Ireland, according to new statistics.

The Irish Heart Foundation is urging women to be extra vigilant of the warning signs of stroke ahead of National Stroke Week.

A total of 1, 174 women died from stroke in 2013, compared to 827 men out of a national total of 2,001 stroke-related deaths.

In counties such as Carlow, Clare, Offaly, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo the difference was even higher, with stroke-related mortality among women close to or exceeding double that of men.

In Laois, the rate was almost three times higher.

Kilkenny and Leitrim were the only two counties that had higher mortality among men from stroke.