Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

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Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
Shannon King, Charity Director

A stroke can occur at anywhere, any time, and is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, 500,000 people experience a stroke with a majority being women. Every 4 minutes, someone dies from a stroke with 80% of these deaths being preventable. Knowing how to identify a stroke for yourself or others is just as important as identifying a heart attack. Quick action may be the difference between life and death for the person having the attack.

Just as a heart attack is a result of a loss of blood flow and oxygen to the heart, a stroke is a loss of blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This can happen in two ways. First, and most common, is the ischemic stroke which results from a blood clot that stops the flow of blood and oxygen into the brain tissue. Secondly, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to bleeding or a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain which causes leakage into surrounding brain tissue causing damage to nerve cells.

The results of a stroke can vary from person to person. Intensity of the results may be so minimal that you aren’t even aware that one has occurred or a massive stroke may be debilitating. One may experience speech problems, paralysis, or even death.

Most people who suffer a stroke are over the age of 65. Knowing the risk factors and learning to live a healthy lifestyle when we are younger is critical in protecting our brain and heart health as we get older. We can minimize our risk by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting the consumption of alcohol and sodium.

Do you think that someone or yourself may be experiencing a stroke? There are several signs and symptoms as well as a simple test that any ordinary person can perform to give a primary diagnosis of a stroke. If you think there is a medical emergency occurring, it is imperative that someone contact 911 immediately. Time is of the essence.

Impaired Vision –  Experiences in vision disturbance varies from person to person depending on a variety of healthy issues. Some may suffer minor or dramatic loss of vision, while others may experience fluctuations of how and what they see which may seem like a fog or hallucinations. Most commonly, people begin to experience double vision. Noticing changes in your vision is extremely important as this symptom often occurs prior to the occurrence of a stroke. Although often temporary, permanent loss of some or all vision can occur if medical treatment isn’t received.

Problems Communicating – Since a stroke can occur anywhere in the brain, different centers may be affected such as vision or speech. Difficulty speaking, jumbling words, or slurred speech may occur. Someone may become or feel confused mid conversation and be completely unaware that they are having a stroke. Intelligence isn’t affected, only the ability to communicate which can be very frustrating for the person in the experience. Issues with feeling confused may begin days before the stroke occurs but are often brushed off as having a bad day or a sign of getting old. Problems with speaking begin as the tongue is irregular shape and sinks to one side or the other. Facial paralysis may also occur on one side.

Vertigo (Dizziness) or Loss of Balance – Balance becomes effected because there is damage to one side of the brain. Someone may have difficulty walking or have trouble sitting down without falling. Sudden feelings of dizziness or sudden fainting is a very important sign especially for women under the age of 45.

Weakness – If you think that you may be experiencing a stroke, medical professionals suggest you do this simple self-test. Try to raise your arms up horizontally with the palms up and hold for 10 seconds. As a stroke effects one side of the body, you may still be able to lift the affected side but there will be a noticeable reduction in strength.

Severe Headache and Weak Facial Muscles – This symptom more often is a symptom in women and younger people with a history of migraines. You may experience an ongoing odd headache or one that comes on suddenly with intense pain. Weakness of the facial muscles often accompanies the headache as well as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Loss of Smell or Taste – When the centers in the brain that control smell or taste are stricken, one can lose the ability to receive and perceive theses senses. Changes in taste and smell occur in varying degrees depending on the severity of the stroke.

Now that we know what signs and symptoms to look for, we can issue a quick and easy test. The three-part test, called the Cincinnati Pre-Hospital Stroke Scale (CPSS), can be used to diagnose most strokes.

  1. Ask the affected person to smile and show their teeth. The “Smile Test” is used to check for one-sided facial weakness – a classic sign of stroke.
  2. Ask your patient to close their eyes and raise their arms. One arm will often be weaker than the other. The patient may not be able to raise it as high as the other one or may be unable to hold it up.
  3. Lastly, ask your patient to repeat this simple sentence to check for slurred speech. “The sky is blue in Cincinnati.” Or, “Don’t cry over spilled milk.”

We are all one community and we all experience a healthier and happier life when we look out for one another. Taking the time to pay attention, identify the signs, administer the above simple test, and calling 911 is imperative in saving lives.

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