Stroke Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore! (1 In 5 Don’t Know They Have It!)
Stroke is defined as a brain attack and that is a result of a disturbed blood circulation in some part of the brain. Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S and the major cause of adult handicap.
There are 2 types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. The first one is the typical stroke caused by constriction or blockage of brain canals,and the second is less common and it’s caused by hemorrhaging.
Learning how to recognize its symptoms and when to ask medical attention is of huge importance when it comes to preventing the brain damage. Although the symptoms are different for everyperson, some of the most common warning signs are:
- Trouble strolling
- Loss of balance or control
- Trouble in talking
- Numbness in the leg, armor face ( particularly on one side)
- Difficulty to understand speech
- Vision problems
- Complete paralysis
- Sudden disappointment without particular cause
To recognize the beginning of the stroke, you have to be familiar with the F.A.S.T acronym. It stands for:
Arms: Ask the patient to lift their arms to see if one is dropping
Face: See if the side of the face sags and ask the patient to smile
Speech: Ask the person to repeat some simple phrase to see whether their speech is slurryor strange
Time: Call the ambulance immediately as every second matters
The warning signs happen unexpectedly and fast reaction is extremely important as any second could improve or worsen the condition.
Instead of driving, you need to call an ambulance right away and wait for the medical workers to start a procedure on the way to the hospital.
Even when the symptoms subside after a couple of minutes, you need to still visit a doctor because these episodes, which are also known as transient ischemic assaults (TIAs)could increase your chance of full stroke.
The symptoms of migraine are very similar to the ones of a stroke, and that often makes it difficult for a patient to differentiate them. This is how you can make a difference between these symptoms:
The warning signs of stroke happen immediately, while the migraine attacks occur gradually and take time to spread
The symptoms of migraine sometimes are positive in a form of added stimuli, flashing lightsor seeing zigzag forms. On the other hand, TIA signs start with unpleasant symptoms such as loss of limb power, hearing loss, andloss of vision.
Even though strokes might affect persons of all ages and everyone could be affected, there are risk factors that increase the risk. Among them are:
- Migraines with mood, or aesthetic disruptions
- Age 55 or older
- Problems such as blood, atrial fibrillation, or heart issues
- Family history
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure ( hypertension)
- Smoking
In order to reduce your chance of getting a stroke, you have to follow a healthy diet that is high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, as well as to exercise regularly.
