Stroke accounts for 10 to 20 percent of the world’s sudden deaths. It is also a leading cause of disabilities. By the way, 80% of cases are preventable! But, most people don’t know the signs that indicate it is underway.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke is caused by a sudden shortage of blood to the brain which can be due to ruptured or clotted blood vessels. This shortage of blood decreases the level of oxygen going into the brain. The lack of oxygen causes the brain cells to die and this can result in brain damage, and sometimes, death.
Types of Stroke
There are two major types of Stroke:
- Ischemic Stroke: This is the most common type that involves the blocking of an artery carrying blood to the brain. It is the most common as it occurs in 80% of all stroke cases.
- Haemorrhagic: This is caused by the rupturing or leaking of blood vessels in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by brain aneurysms or high blood pressure.
Causes of stroke include:
- Family/Genetics
- Age
- Tobacco intake
- High blood pressure — Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Heart diseases
- Types of medications (blood thinners) to name a few.
While not all strokes might lead to death, most can cause brain damage, lead to partial or complete paralysis, and cause speaking and thinking problems.
Recognizing its signs and symptoms can help save a life. So, make your way to a primary care clinic as soon as possible if you relate to any of the following signs or know anyone who does.
Warning Signs of Stroke.
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): TIA is also known as “semi stroke”. A semi-stroke happens when there’s a blockage of blood flow to the brain. It usually lasts for a few minutes, after which the blood clot melts by itself. It has been listed as a symptom of stroke because it is usually a precursor to the other major types of stroke. It usually does not cause any permanent damage, but it is advisable to watch out for other types of stroke if a person has suffered from TIA.
- Numbness: A person who’s about to experience a stroke usually loses sensation in the arms and face, or usually, this occurs on one side of the body.
- Loss of balance or coordination: This often accompanies a bout of dizziness. The person will experience dizziness and lose balance and coordination and find walking difficult.
- Confusion: The person finds it difficult to understand what’s going on around or what everyone else is saying.
- Affected speech: Slurred words, difficulty in speaking, and speech loss are common symptoms that a person is about to suffer from a stroke.
- Neurological Disorder: Overactive reflexes, and nystagmus (involuntary rhythmic side-to-side, up and down, circular motion of the eyes) is also an indicator of an oncoming stroke.
- Visual loss: Double vision, sudden total vision loss, or loss of vision in one eye, are other ways of recognizing a stroke attack.
- Lack of muscle control: Weak facial muscles and weak muscles are a common occurrence in a person who’s having an attack. Such a person has a droopy face and stiff muscles that do not allow for movement.
- Reduced touch sensations.
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Splitting headaches
The FAST Way:
Here are quick ways of recognizing if one is about to have a stroke.
- Face: Ask the person to smile, and see if the face droops.
- Arms: Tell the person to lift his/her arms and move them around. Check for difficulty in doing this.
- Speech: Is the person’s speech slurred? Does the person find it difficult to speak?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then you should call emergency numbers or get to a health center around you quickly, so the person can receive proper care.
Final words
A person might not recover completely from a stroke, but fast actions of recognizing and seeking medical attention can go a long way in the person’s life. So, don’t hesitate to take necessary precautions immediately if you see any of these symptoms. Quick action can save a life!
You can also reach out to us for a proper check-up and diagnosis. You don’t have to wait until anything happens before taking steps. A stitch in time does save nine.
