A stroke also referred to as a cerebral vascular accident is found to be the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. It occurs when the blood supply to the brain has been disrupted. Blockage of blood supply by a clot may occur in the artery and in other cases there can be bleeding into the brain tissue.
The treatment for stroke must be administered immediately because the window of opportunity for treating stroke patients is only three hours. A person having the stroke should be taken to the hospital within 60 minutes, to prevent further Headache treatment disability. That’s why it is important for all of us to know warning signs of stroke and how to act in case of this medical emergency.
Recognising the Signs of a Stroke
Stroke has been a top killer and is considered a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms of a stroke. However, the symptoms experienced may vary from person to person, depending on the condition that whether a stroke is caused by a blood clot in the brain or bleeding.
The intensity of stroke symptoms depends on the severity of your condition. For instance, a large blood clot makes the symptoms to appear within seconds. In other instance, a narrowed artery may cause symptoms in minutes, hours or even days to appear.
F.A.S.T.
F.A.S.T. is an acronym to remember the early warning signs of a stroke. This helps you recognize the stroke symptoms early so that you can decrease the amount of damage in the brain.
Face drooping: When you smile, one side of the face droops or is numb or uneven.
Arm weakness: When you raise both arms, one arm will feel weak or numb or will drift downward.
Speech difficulty: You will have trouble speaking, with words that sound slurred. You will have trouble speaking when repeating a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.”
Time: Time to seek immediate medical care. If you notice any of the above symptoms, go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Many strokes are preventable if you act “FAST.“ Medical screening and healthy lifestyle choices can prevent strokes.
Beyond F.A.S.T. – Other Symptoms You Should Know
The additional warning signs that may signal a stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face.
- Spinal cord infarction
- Pain in the arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion
- Intercostal nerve block
- Brain Mapping
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Muscular dystrophy
- Sudden trouble walking
- Dizziness
- Brain surgery
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden or severe headache with no known cause
- Nausea and vomiting
- Trauma Surgery
- Unexplained changes in personality
- Unusual forgetfulness
- Impaired judgment
Symptoms of Stroke in Women
Stroke is the top third cause of death among women. The signs are unique for women making it difficult for them to recognize the symptoms at early stages. The unique stroke signs experienced by women include:
- Fainting
- General weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Unresponsiveness
- Sudden behavioral change
- Irritation
- Hallucination
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain
- Seizures
- Hiccups
Prevention is always better than cure. Always try to reduce the risk of stroke by making healthy lifestyle changes. The following are the measures that may help you lower the risk of stroke:
- Maintain a normal range of blood pressure
- Avoid smoking
- Maintain a normal level of blood sugar (glucose)
- Treat your heart disease, if any
- Keep your cholesterol levels in the normal range
- Lower your weight
- Get active
- Eat healthily
- Exercise more because that itself stands as an independent stroke reducer.
Conclusion
Please remember not to take any self- medications like aspirin on your own. It is not always a solution for the stroke and can make the condition worsen. As soon as you or your loved one’s experience any of these stroke symptoms, rush to the hospital and book online doctor for treatment.
A stroke is a sudden attack with very few warning signs. You cannot stop the occurrence of stroke but can reduce the chances of making it worse by getting the patient or yourself to the hospital within time. Early treatment of stroke is crucial because every second count when you see any of these stroke warning signs meet the best Neurologist in india for stroke treatment.
