What Are The Symptoms Of A Stroke?
A stroke (or cerebrovascular accident) is a medical emergency that, if not treated in time, could result in the death of the patient. Therefore, it is extremely important to know your symptoms and seek medical help as soon as they are detected.
While it is true that they can be prevented by practicing good lifestyle habits, it is important to take into account the following that we are going to comment below.
What is a stroke?
A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when an area of the brain stops receiving blood, due to a problem in a blood vessel within the skull. Shortly after the blood flow and the supply of oxygen and nutrients have been interrupted, the neurons in that area begin to die in a matter of minutes.
The experts in the MSD Manual indicate that “most strokes are ischemic (usually due to a blocked artery), but some are hemorrhagic (due to a ruptured artery).”
The sooner the patient receives medical help, the fewer consequences they may suffer. On the other hand, early treatment can increase the chances of a good recovery.
Types of stroke
- Ischemic stroke. It happens when a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, preventing blood flow. 80% of stroke correspond to this type.
- Hemorrhagic stroke. It happens when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding. 20% of stroke correspond to this class.
Main associated risk factors
Age is one of the risk factors associated with stroke, since the older the patient is, the greater the risk. Of course, this is not the only factor to take into account. Also consider the following:
- Diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Smoking
- Alcoholism.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Arterial hypertension.
- Bad eating habits.
- Heart diseases.
- Family background.
- High levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Main symptoms of stroke
Symptoms come on quickly and include:
- Sudden confusion
- Loss of balance
- Lack of coordination.
- Difficulty seeing (through one or both eyes).
- Headache (severe, sudden, and no known cause).
- Sudden numbness of a part of the face, arm or leg.
- Difficulty understanding and answering simple questions such as: What day is it today? o What is your name?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke guide: “Although strokes are a disease of the brain, they can affect the entire body. The effects of a stroke can range from mild to severe, and can include paralysis, problems with reasoning, speech, vision problems, and problems with motor coordination ”.
Read: Can the brain feel pain?
How to deal with these symptoms?
It should be noted that sometimes the patient who is suffering a stroke does not realize that something is happening. This happens because stroke can affect understanding and consciousness.
Although the symptoms are mild and disappear over time, you should still consult an emergency doctor, as it could be a transient ischemic attack or “mini vascular accident”. This also must be treated quickly to prevent greater evils.
So remember: if you observe the above symptoms in anyone, make sure they receive immediate medical treatment. You could save his life. In short, as soon as one or more of these symptoms appear, an ambulance should be called immediately. Every minute counts!
If the person receives medical treatment soon, it is very likely that they will survive and have a better chance of enjoying a good quality of life after their recovery.
If your doctor has told you that you are prone to having a stroke, you should follow his instructions and learn more about the respective prevention measures.
