Oct 274 min read

Could it be a stroke?

Imagine you or someone close to you suddenly starts feeling ill. They may feel sudden dizziness, difficulties with speech, or loss of control over one side of their body. It may be a stroke. Knowing the symptoms of a stroke, how to rapidly identify them and what to do if a person is having a stroke can mean the difference between life and long-lasting disability.

What are the symptoms?

When a stroke occurs, the faster it is identified and treated, the better the chances for recovery. FAST is an easy way to remember common stroke symptoms:

F-face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A-arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward, or is one arm weak?
S-speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is the speech slurred or difficult to understand?
T-time: If you find any of these warning signals, you must act in time. Call the emergency medical services immediately.

Other symptoms that you would want to watch out for include sudden numbness or sudden weakness, confusion, trouble seeing in either one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, or a severe headache for no obvious reason.

How to help someone suffering from a stroke?

If you suspect that someone has a stroke, the sooner you act the better. What you can do is as follows: Call immediately for emergency services. The sooner medical treatment is provided, the better the chance for limiting possible permanent brain damage. Keep the person comfortable in a quiet, warm place. Do not give them food or liquids, nor any medication, unless medical personnel tell you to do so. This could interfere with immediate emergency treatment. Monitor their symptoms carefully while awaiting help. Note changes in behavior so you can report them when emergency medical personnel arrive.

What are the types of stroke?

There are three main types of strokes with different underlying causes:

Ischemic stroke: It’s the most common type (85% of strokes). This is due to a blood clot that has blocked or narrowed an artery and consequently reduced blood flow in the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: develops when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds inside or outside the brain. This hemorrhage may be caused by a variety of reasons: usually high blood pressure or aneurysms-those are blood vessels that burst.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): Sometimes called a "mini-stroke," a TIA is a temporary blockage in the blood supply to the brain. Although most symptoms disappear within minutes or hours, having a TIA is a serious warning that a stroke could occur in the near future and must never be ignored.

What causes strokes?

There are numerous risk factors that predispose any given individual to stroke. Some of these, including age and family history, cannot be controlled; however, others can be controlled since they involve lifestyle. The major risk factors are as follows:

High Blood Pressure: This is the leading cause of stroke, especially in hematoma-related strokes.
High Cholesterol: Plaque builds up along the walls of the arteries due to high levels of cholesterol, hence increasing the chances of stroke.
Smoking: It leads to deterioration of the blood vessels and clotting in the end.
Diabetes: If uncontrolled, the blood sugar can cause damage to blood vessels and encourage clotting.
Obesity: Being overweight increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases, all of which are linked to stroke.

It is important to know that strokes can occur at any age, however the risk increases with age. The average stroke-age is approximately 74.

What is the treatment?

When a stroke patient reaches the hospital, physicians take immediate action to identify the type of stroke and the ideal course of treatment. For an ischemic stroke, physicians can quickly administer clot-busting drugs that essentially melt the clot-but are most effective when given within a 4.5-hour time frame from the stroke. Treatments for hemorrhagic strokes often include measures to control bleeding and reduce pressure within the brain; in some instances, surgery may be required. In TIA treatment, doctors usually advise changes in lifestyle and appropriate medications to reduce blood clotting in order to avoid stroke.

What are the long term effects?

Recovery after stroke depends on the type of stroke, the severity, and how fast the treatment was applied. The majority of people use physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy in order to learn activities again and strengthen themselves. The long-term effects can range from negligible to severe and may include difficulty with motor-function, speech, memory, and even emotional challenges. Recovery tends to be gradual, and a positive atmosphere combined with support from family and caregivers forms the most critical part of the recovery process.

In conclusion, strokes are serious and may happen at any age. Recognizing the signs, understanding the risks, and knowing what to do in an emergency can make all the difference. More symptom awareness and faster action by everyone will contribute to timely treatment and allow for better recovery of those affected by stroke.