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Strokes: Warning Signs, Symptoms and Causes
How Does a Stroke Happen?
A stroke is something that happens when blood flow to the brain has been blocked. When this happens, the brain does not get enough oxygen and nutrients from the blood then. This would result in the brain cells dying within minutes. Having a stroke can cause brain damage since the brain cells are what gets affected and even long-term disability can happen.
The signs of a stroke should be taken seriously and one should know the warning signs of a stroke as well for this. It is taken as a medical emergency once the signs have been noticed. If you think you can see the signs of a stroke beforehand then you should call for an ambulance right away. Every minute counts once the symptoms of the stroke have been noticed.
Warning Signs Before a Stroke
Getting treatment faster is how damage to the brain can be reduced. Hence, it is important to know the warning signs of a stroke beforehand. When you know the signs of a stroke then you can act fast and prevent more damage happening to the brain.
The signs can appear suddenly and you would need to act fast as well to get the person or even yourself, the right treatment for a stroke. The warning signs before a stroke happens can be identified from a method called the “FAST” method. This acronym stands for,
F – Face drooping (Their smile will be uneven or one-sided if you ask them to do so.)
A-Arm weakness (If you ask them to raise both arms, one of them will drop lower than the other)
S – Speech problems
T – Time to call for an ambulance
These are the most common warning signs before a stroke happens and you should keep in mind them for your knowledge so that you can act fast if the situation ever arises.
What are the Symptoms of a Stroke?
The warning signs of a stroke beforehand are not the only signs to look out for but they are the most common as well. There are two different types of strokes which is why it is wise to know the symptoms if you are at risk of having a stroke. The other symptoms of a stroke are as follows,
- A sudden and severe headache
- Change of your vision to one or both eyes/loss of vision
- Having trouble understanding things that are typically easy to understand
- Numbness on one side of the body or even in the arm or leg
- Sudden loss of balance and coordination
The treatment that you receive will be depending on the type of stroke that you or a person you know has had, the area of the brain affected, and how severe the symptoms have progressed. The sooner the treatment is done then the better the results will be.
Treatment for a Stroke
You should consult your doctor or schedule a health screening if you want to learn more about your stroke risk. You can learn if you have a blocked artery that could result in a stroke or a blood clot by having your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other factors tested.
However, to treat you or someone you know who has had a stroke then there will be long-term treatment and lasting physical and even emotional effects to the individual. You will have to be involved with therapy treatments and support groups to help you cope with the aftereffects of a stroke. There are even certain medications that can help once the stroke has been identified but it all depends on how severe the symptoms are. The treatment for a stroke can be,
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Support groups
Make your consultation appointment with us at Queen People’s Pharmacy and prevent yourself from being at risk of having a stroke
