How to Tell if You’re Suffering From a Stroke

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Unfortunately, heart disease is a problem plaguing a large facet of our nation. In fact, at least 49% of Americans have either high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, or smoke — these are all risk factors for heart disease. Heart disease can cause heart attacks and stroke.

What is a stroke?
There are two types of stroke:
Ischemic Stroke Similar to a heart attack, ischemic strokes happen within the blood vessels of the brain. During this kind of stroke, clots can form within the brain’s blood vessels. Approximately 80% of all strokes are ischemic.

The second kind of stroke is called hemmorhagic strokes, and occur when blood vessels in the brain break or rupture. In result, blood seeps into the tissue, ultimately causing damage to brain cells. This is often a result of high blood pressure or brain aneurysms, which are weaknesses or thinness in blood vessel walls.

What are the signs of a stroke?Stroke survivors typically have to relearn basic motor and cognitive functions, causing great physical and emotional strain. Knowing the signs can significantly help you to mitigate the damage of an incoming stroke by getting the help of cardiac care specialists.
Here are symptoms of a stroke:

  • Onset weakness or numbness in areas including the face, arm, leg, or on one side of the body.
  • A sudden loss of vision, strength, coordination, sensation, speech, or an ability to understand cognitive speech.
  • Dimness of vision.
  • Sudden headaches followed by a loss of consciousness — these are signs of having a stroke due to hemmoraghing.
  • Unexplained dizziness or falling, as well as an onset loss of balance followed by throwing up.

What should I do?
If you experience any of these symptoms of a stroke, it’s critical that you call 911 as soon as possible. The longer you delay calling for help, the worse the prognosis is as far as survival and recovery goes.
And while it might feel like these symptoms pass, do not take it lightly. Instead, call a hospital or emergency cardiology center immediately. Early treatment and intervention is one of the only things that will help a fatal stroke from occurring.