Before discussing the symptoms of a stroke, let us first understand what exactly a stroke is.
When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, there are chances of a stroke. Without an adequate blood supply, the brain cells don’t get enough oxygen to function properly. If the oxygen supply is interrupted for a long period, the brain cells eventually die. Strokes also occur if the blood vessels are damaged.
There are two types of strokes:
Ischemic stroke: when an artery that supplies blood to the brain is blocked and causes brain cells to die.
Hemorrhagic stroke: when an artery in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in the brain.
The effects of a stroke depend on how long there is an interruption of blood flow to the brain. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is when the blood vessel is temporarily blocked and is also known as a mini-stroke. In such cases, the blood supply returns within minutes, and therefore symptoms might also go away and there may not be permanent damage to the brain cells. Unfortunately, since TIAs clear up fast, many people ignore them. But a TIA also indicates that a serious stroke is on the way & therefore this warning sign should not be ignored. About 4 in 10 people who have a TIA, usually go on to have a severe stroke. Paying attention to a TIA can save your life.
A major stroke on the other hand can cause extremely serious problems because brain cells are damaged. Such a stroke can turn fatal if medical assistance is not taken fast.
Stroke is a major cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. It can happen to anyone irrespective of age or time. Therefore, everyone must know the warning signs.
What is “FAST?” The acronym FAST is used by the American Stroke Association to help you recognize common stroke symptoms. It stands for the main symptoms associated with early signs of a stroke & what to do in such cases:
Beyond “FAST” some other symptoms you should know include:
Therefore, it is imperative to understand that stroke treatments work best only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed on time and medication is given within 3 hours of the first symptoms.
As mentioned earlier, though anyone can have a stroke; some of us are more susceptible than others. It’s important to know if you are at higher risk and to take precautions accordingly to prevent a mishap.
Needless to say, you may not be aware if you have a weakened blood vessel that could burst. But regular screening and check-ups can help you determine that. Many of the factors that increase the risk of blood clots or blockage in the blood vessels are under our control.
You can follow a few simple steps to reduce your risks. The probability of having a stroke is higher if:
You can prevent or lower many of these risks if you:
You can be prepared for stroke if you know you’re at risk.
Some people suffer from strokes without even realizing it. These are called silent strokes, and they either cannot be recognized, or the patient doesn’t remember them. But unfortunately, they do cause permanent damage to the brain.
If an individual has had more than one silent stroke, he or she may have memory problems. They can also lead to severe strokes later on.
Detecting a silent stroke is only possible with a brain scan. If you experience memory or thinking problems or difficulty getting around, you can get yourself checked by your family physician. An experienced doctor will be able to identify a silent stroke.
A study of middle-aged people revealed that nearly 10% of such people who had no obvious signs of stroke did have brain damage. Though the damage is permanent, regular and timely therapy can help stimulate other parts of the brain to recover abilities that may have weakened.
Almost every one of us gets an occasional headache, and some people have more frequent headaches, especially if they suffer from migraine. Though most headaches are not serious and can be handled with over-the-counter medicines, there are certain cases where a headache can turn out to be something more serious, like a stroke.
In addition to the typical stroke symptoms mentioned above, around 7-65% of people experience a stroke-related headache. People often describe a stroke headache as the worst headache ever. The pain associated with a stroke headache is quite severe and comes within minutes. It generally doesn't throb or develop gradually like a migraine. This sort of headache can occur anywhere on the head and mostly the stroke is directly related to the affected area of the headache.
For instance, strokes that arise within the carotid artery can cause a headache on the forehead whereas strokes in the vertebrobasilar system, (which supplies blood to the back of the brain), can cause a headache at the back of the head.
In some cases, it may be hard to tell the difference between a migraine and a stroke-related headache because sometimes they do have overlapping symptoms. You can differentiate the two if you observe the sensations closely. A migraine headache usually produces sensations like flashing lights, tingling skin, or aura while a stroke-related headache causes the sensation of loss of vision or loss of feeling. Migraine headaches also cause a throbbing sensation that gradually gets worse; while stroke headaches can happen very suddenly and cause pain that is quite severe.
A “mini-stroke” or TIA can also cause a stroke-related headache and there is a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain tissue. TIAs also produce identical symptoms to a stroke, but they can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hours only.
If you want to find out your stroke risk then you can consult our expert team at IGEA Brain, Spine & Orthopedics or arrange a health screening. Getting your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors checked can tell you if you are more likely to develop a blood clot or to have a blocked artery that could cause a stroke.