A stroke is a life-threatening emergency that occurs because of a ruptured or blocked blood vessel in your brain. Unfortunately, these medical incidents are the third-highest cause of death in the United States, and if people survive, they will likely live with a disability. Strokes are more common among seniors, but they can happen to anyone, no matter their age. If you experience one of these medical emergencies, you need to seek out help quickly to get the best results. Call 911 or go to your closest emergency room if you experience one of the five symptoms below. These signs can occur due to other medical reasons, but it is better to be safe.
1. Weakness
When you have a stroke, you will notice significant weakness on one side of the body. When raising both arms, one will likely drift lower because it does not have the same strength. This weakness will extend into your face also, as when you smile, one-half of your face will droop downwards. You may notice that one side of your body feels numb, meaning you will not have any feeling in those limbs or that portion of your face. The weaker side of your body will correlate to the part of your brain where the stroke occurred.
2. Walking Trouble
You will likely have walking difficulties due to the one-sided bodily weakness after your stroke. You may also feel dizzy because of the asymmetrical symptoms you will experience after this medical emergency. This feeling will also come from the blockage or rupture that occurs in your brain, as it will make you lose your balance. This loss of coordination will lead to falls and other potential dangers when you are in the recovery process. Ultimately, it will likely be difficult to get up and move as you used to if you are in the middle of a stroke.
3. Vision Changes
Sometimes, strokes lead to vision changes. You may experience temporary blindness in the eye on the side of the brain where the medical emergency occurred. If you do not seek immediate help in the middle of the stroke, you could encounter permanent vision loss, which will affect you for the rest of your life. Blindness is not always the symptom you will experience in your eyes during a stroke. Some individuals see floaters or spots in their eyes during these medical emergencies. In other instances, there is a significant amount of blurriness that was not there before.
4. Confusion and Trouble Speaking
One of the most common symptoms that can happen during a stroke is an inability to speak or trouble speaking. Your loved ones may ask you to read a simple sentence to determine if your speech sounds strained, slurred, or different. Sometimes, a stroke leads to confusion, leaving you unaware of the happenings around you. You may experience temporary amnesia that involves short-term or long-term memory loss. Some stroke victims do not understand what their loved ones say or what they ask them, which is different than usual.
5. Thunderclap Headache
As mentioned, a stroke causes a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in your brain. This sudden emergency leads to a thunderclap headache, which many individuals describe as some of the worst pain they have ever had. This symptom will come on suddenly without a cause, especially if you are not already a migraine sufferer. You could try to take pain relievers, but often, these medications will not lead to any relief. It is best to seek out help quickly to get the best results after your stroke, so it is best to call emergency services.
Get Help for Your Stroke
You need to call 911 or emergency services as soon as you experience any of the symptoms listed above. The medical personnel will likely ask about the time the signs began. There is a limit to when doctors can provide you with medication that will stop the stroke from becoming worse. If you go to the hospital too late, you are at a higher risk of death and more severe long-term disabilities from this medical emergency. Always maintain awareness about your body to know when something is not right. Seeking help fast can save lives.
