3 Ways to Recognize the Early Signs of a Stroke

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

According to the "National Stroke Organization" in the US, every year nearly 800,000 people will have a stroke. Every four minutes someone dies of a stroke, whereas 80% of stroke cases can actually be prevented. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in adults in the US. There are three types of stroke, with similar symptoms, but different ways of handling. During a stroke, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, and brain cells become permanently damaged, resulting in both physical and mental disability. Knowing the symptoms and risk factors is important so that you or your loved ones get the right treatment when a stroke occurs.

Step

Method 1 of 1: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Step 1. Watch for weak facial or leg muscles

The patient may be unable to hold objects or suddenly lose balance when standing. Watch for signs in the form of one side of the patient's face or body becoming weak. One side of the patient's mouth may feel heavy when smiling or he may not be able to raise his hands above his head.

Step 2. Pay attention if the patient has difficulty speaking or has difficulty understanding conversations

When certain areas of the brain are affected, the individual may have difficulty speaking or understanding what is being said to him or her. Your loved one may appear confused by what you are saying, and respond like someone who doesn't understand what's being said, becomes slurred, or speaks in disorganized tones unlike normal people. This can be scary for him too. Do your best to calm him down after you call the emergency number for medical attention.

Sometimes, a person becomes unable to speak at all

Step 3. Ask if the person has difficulty seeing with both eyes

At the time of a stroke, the eyesight will be affected suddenly. People report symptoms of vision loss in one or both eyes, or seeing with double vision. Ask the patient if he can't see or sees with double eyes (if he has difficulty speaking, ask him to nod to answer "yes" or "no" if possible).

You may notice that the person will turn to the left to look at the left eye using the right eye

Step 4. Watch for loss of coordination or balance

When a person loses strength in their arms or legs, you will notice that the person has difficulty with balance and coordination. He may not be able to pick up a pen, or be unable to walk because one of his limbs isn't working.

You may also notice the person getting weak or suddenly tripping and falling

Step 5. Observe for sudden and intense headaches

This type of stroke is also called a “brain attack” and can cause a sudden headache that has been described as the worst headache the sufferer has ever experienced. These headaches may cause nausea and vomiting due to increased pressure on the brain.

Step 6. Record a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA looks similar to a stroke (often called a “mini stroke”) but lasts less than five minutes and doesn't cause any physical damage. However, this attack is an emergency type and requires further evaluation and treatment to reduce the potential risk that leads to stroke. Most likely, a TIA is predicted to cause a stroke within hours or days after a person experiences it. Doctors believe that these symptoms are caused by a temporary blockage of an artery in the brain.

• About 20% of people who have a TIA will have a major stroke within 90 days and approximately two percent will have a major stroke within two days.
• Having a TIA can lead to multi-infarct dementia (MID), or memory loss, over time.

Step 7.

Remember the word FAST.

FAST stands for Face (Face), Arms (Arms), Way of Speak (Speech), and Time (Time). The word FAST will alert you to things to check when you suspect that someone has the potential to have a stroke. If you notice any of the above symptoms, it is important to call the emergency telephone number immediately. Every minute means a lot to the sufferer in order to get the best possible treatment in order to get the best results too.

• Face: ask the person to smile to see if one side of the face looks down
• Arms: ask the person to raise both arms. Can he do it? Is it difficult to lift one arm/hand?
• How to speak: Does the person speak incoherently? Can he not speak at all? Is the person confused when asked to repeat a simple sentence?
• Time: Call your local emergency services immediately if these symptoms occur. Don't delay at all.

Handling Stroke

1. Take appropriate action. If you or someone close to you experiences any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency treatment "immediately." All the signs above are very clear clues of the symptoms of a stroke.

   

   • You need to contact the nearest emergency service, even if these symptoms are no longer visible or cause no pain.
   • Record the first time you find these symptoms, to help the medical team provide the right treatment.

2. Provide a report of your overall physical observations to a doctor. Even though this is an emergency treatment, the doctor will treat it by taking a thorough and quick medical and physical history before offering tests and treatment. Suggested medical tests may include:

   

   • Computed tomography (CT), which is a type of X-ray scan that takes detailed pictures of the brain as soon as symptoms of a stroke are suspected.
   • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which also detects damage to the brain and can be used as an alternative to or complementing a CT scan.
   • Carotid ultrasound, which is painless and will show narrowing of the arteries in the head. This test is also helpful after a TIA event, especially if there is no potential for permanent damage to the brain. If the doctor notices a narrowing of 70%, this means that surgery is needed on the patient to prevent stroke.
   • Angiography of the arteries of the head, which uses a catheter tube, dye, and X-rays to view the spaces in the arteries in the head.
   • Echocardiogram (ECG), which doctors can use to evaluate heart health and the presence of risk factors for stroke.
   • Blood test. This test is done to detect low blood sugar levels that mimic the symptoms of a stroke, and the level of blood clots that can provide an indication of high risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke.

3. Identify the type of stroke that occurred. Although the physical symptoms and outcomes of stroke look similar, there are differences in each type of stroke. The manner of the incident and the follow-up for handling it are also different. The doctor will determine the type of stroke based on the results of all the tests performed.

   

   • Hemorrhagic stroke: This type of stroke is a condition when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or bleeds. The blood flows into or around the brain, depending on the location of the blood vessels, causing pressure and swelling. This bleeding damages cells and tissues. Intracerebral vascular rupture is the most common hemorrhagic stroke, and occurs within brain tissue. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a distinct bleeding effect, which occurs between the brain and the tissue that covers the brain (subarachnoid).
   • Ischemic stroke: This is the most common type of stroke and occurs in 83% of stroke survivors. Narrowing of the arteries in the brain that causes a blood clot (also called a “thrombus”) or swelling of an artery (atherosclerosis) that stops the flow of blood and oxygen to brain tissues and cells and causes a lack of blood flow (ischemia), causing an ischemic stroke.

4. Be aware that emergency treatment is needed for hemorrhagic strokes. In the case of a hemorrhagic stroke, doctors will act immediately to stop the bleeding from occurring. These treatments include:

   

   • Surgical clipping (scissors) or endovascular embolization to stop bleeding at the bottom of the swollen blood vessel (aneurysm), if that is the cause of the stroke.
   • Surgery to remove unabsorbed blood into brain tissue and to relieve pressure on the brain (usually in severe cases).
   • Surgery to remove arteriovenous malformation if the AVM occurs in an accessible area. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a further technique that minimizes invasion and is used to remove the AVM.
   • Intracranial bypass to increase blood flow in certain cases.
   • Stop taking blood thinners immediately, as these drugs will make it difficult for bleeding in the brain to stop.
   • Medical support treatment as blood is being reabsorbed by the body, as happens in a wound.

5. Be aware that further management and treatment is needed in the case of ischemic stroke. Both medication and medical treatment can be used to stop a stroke or prevent further damage to the brain. Some of these immediate response options include:

   

   • Tissue plasminogen activators (TPA) to dissolve blood clots in arteries in the brain. Treatment is done by being injected through the arm of a patient who has had a stroke due to a blood clot. This treatment must be performed within four hours of the stroke occurring. The sooner it is done, the better the results.
   • Antiplatelet medication to stop further blood clots in the brain and further damage. However, this treatment must be done within 48 hours, and can cause further damage if the patient has a hemorrhagic stroke so a proper diagnosis is needed.
   • Carotid endarterectomy or angioplasty if heart disease is present. In this procedure, a surgeon removes the inner lining of the carotid artery if it is blocked by plaque or the blood has become thick and stiff. This opens the carotid vessels and opens the way for oxygen-carrying blood to flow to the brain. This treatment will be done if there is blockage in the arteries at least 70%.
   • Intra-arterial thrombolysis is performed by a surgeon by inserting a catheter into the groin and threading it upwards toward the brain so that the drug can be released directly near the area of the clot that needs to be removed.

Identifying Risk Factors

1. Consider your age. Age is the most important risk factor in determining stroke risk. The risk of having a stroke almost doubles every ten years after a person reaches the age of 55.

   

2. Seriously consider a previous stroke or TIA. One of the biggest risk factors for stroke is if a person has had a stroke or a temporary ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”) in the past. Work with your doctor to reduce risk factors if you have had any of these events in your life history.

   

3. Keep in mind that women are more likely to die from a stroke. Although men are more likely to suffer a stroke, women are at greater risk of dying from a stroke. The use of birth control pills also increases the risk of stroke in women.

   

4. Watch for atrial fibrillation (AF). Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can become fast and weak in the part of the heart in the left atrium. This condition leads to a slowdown in blood flow, which increases the risk of blood clots. A doctor can diagnose AF with an electrocardiogram (ECG) test.

   

   Symptoms of AF include palpitations, chest pain, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and fatigue

5. Note the presence of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). These malformations cause blood vessels in or around the brain to pass through normal tissue in a way that increases the risk of stroke. AVM is often congenital (though not always hereditary), and affects less than 1% of the population. However, it is more common in men than women.

   

6. Get tested for peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease is a condition where the arteries are narrowed. This narrowing of the arteries is more likely to cause blood clots and prevent the smooth flow of blood throughout the body.

   

   • The arteries in the legs are usually affected.
   • Peripheral artery disease is a major risk factor for stroke.

7. Watch your blood pressure. High blood pressure puts stress on your arteries and other blood vessels. This can cause weak points that rupture easily (and result in a hemorrhagic stroke) or thin, blood-filled, enlarged spots on the artery wall (aneurysm).

   

   Damage to the arteries can also lead to the formation of clots and disrupt blood circulation leading to ischemic stroke

8. Know the risk of diabetes mellitus. If you have diabetes, you are at a greater risk of having a stroke due to health problems associated with diabetes. If you have diabetes, you may also have other health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other forms of heart disease. All of these can increase your risk of stroke.

   

9. Lower your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can also be a major risk factor for stroke. Maintain a healthy, low-fat diet to maintain safe cholesterol levels.

   

10. Keep yourself away from tobacco consumption. Smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels. In addition, nicotine consumption raises your blood pressure. Both of these problems put you at a greater risk of stroke.

    

    Even passive smokers have a high risk of having a stroke

11. Lower your alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to various medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which can increase the risk of stroke.

    

    • Alcohol consumption causes platelet clumping, which leads to a stroke or heart attack. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to cardiomyopathy (weakening or failure of the heart muscle) and abnormalities in heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, which can form clots and lead to strokes.
    • The recommended "dose" as a safe limit is no more than one serving (individual size glass/bottle) for women or no more than two servings for pris.

12. Keep your weight to avoid obesity. Obesity can lead to medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which increase the chances of having a stroke.

    

13. Exercise to maintain good health. Exercising regularly is very effective in preventing many of the conditions mentioned above, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Do at least 30 minutes of cardio every day.

    

14. Rethink your family background. Certain ethnic groups/races are more prone to stroke than others. This also applies to various genetic and physical attributes. Blacks, Mexicans, American Indians, and Native Alaskans are at a higher risk of stroke based on their racial predisposition.

    

    Blacks and Mexicans are also at risk for sickle cell disease, which can cause red blood cells to take on an abnormal shape that makes them more likely to get stuck in blood vessels, leading to a higher potential for ischemic stroke

Tips

• Remember the acronym FAST to assess the situation immediately and get medical treatment for stroke immediately.
• People who have an ischemic stroke get better if it is treated within an hour of the onset of symptoms. Treatment may include medical treatment and/or prevention.

Warning

• While there is no permanent damage after a TIA, it is an important warning sign that a similar or more severe stroke, or heart attack, may occur at a later time. If you or a loved one has had a TIA or stroke (such as symptoms that seem to disappear within a few minutes), it is important to continue to seek medical attention and treatment to reduce the potential for a more severe stroke.
• Although this article offers medical information about stroke, it does not mean that this article can be considered as medical advice. Always seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you or a loved one is having a stroke.

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