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Stroke is a sudden brain attack caused by interrupted, or severely reduced, circulation of blood in the brain, which deprives the brain tissue of nutrients and oxygen.
The stroke is one of the major causes of death and adult handicap. There are two types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic.
WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE
Ischemic stroke occurs when there is an obstruction within the blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke is less common, and it is caused by a rupture of a weakened blood vessel.
The best prevention of a stroke is to recognize the early signs and symptoms. In order to receive a proper treatment and to prevent any severe damage or handicap, you should consult your doctor immediately after experiencing something unusual. Here are the most common early signs of a stroke.
COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STROKE
Every individual experiences different stroke symptoms. However, there is one shared characteristic that applies to every stroke, the symptoms always occur suddenly. The most common early signs and symptoms of stroke are:
- Sudden weakness and numbness of the face and limbs, especially on one side of the body
- Inability to speak or understand properly
- Loss of control and coordination, poor balance, trouble walking, and dizziness
- Blurred vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Severe headache caused by unknown reason
- Unexplained and unexpected disappointment
- Complete paralysis
These symptoms occur instantly, and you should call an ambulance immediately when you experience any of them. You shouldn’t drive to the hospital by yourself because the medical team will start to treat you before you get to the hospital.
Often, these symptoms disappear after a few minutes. However, you shouldn’t wait for your condition to improve because these breaks, called transient ischemic assaults (TIAs), can be responsible for experiencing a full stroke.
TIPS TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE
There are several things that you can do to easily recognize if you are about to have a stroke:
- Raise Your Arms. Try to hold both of your arms up, and see if any of them will drift downwards.
- Smile and examine your face. Pay attention if you have difficulty smiling and if there is anything unusual about your face.
- Pronounce a simple sentence. While doing so, notice whether you have any troubles with your speech.
If you fail to do some of these things, you should call an ambulance immediately, and describe your symptoms to the emergency dispatch operator.
RISK FACTORS THAT CAUSE STROKE
There are several factors that increase the risk of experiencing a stroke, including:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Genetics
- Blood disorders and problems with the heart muscle
- Smoking
- Older age (55 and above)
- Moody migraines
In order to decrease the risk of a stroke, you should aim to have a healthy lifestyle. Be physically active and consume more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
