Closer shares five tips from doctors and experts on how to spot the symptoms of a stroke.
Headaches Can Be a Sign of a Stroke
“Headaches are a common complaint in those who suffer from ischemic strokes, where a blood clot is cutting off blood to the brain,” explains Dr. Sam Laali, a neurologist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Texas. “When you’re dealing with a sudden onset headache that might be described as the ‘worst headache of your life,’ that could [also] indicate the possibility of a ruptured aneurysm.”
Numbness Can Be a Warning of a Stroke
Per Dr. Heydi Flores Podadera of the Department of Neurology at Baystate Health in Massachusetts, one of the signs of a stroke is “numbness or weakness on one side of the body – a drooping face or arm that falls when you lift it up. These symptoms can also apply to the spine, legs and feet.” Also, numbness in one half of your body determines which half of your brain the stroke is occurring, since one side of your brain controls the opposite side of your body.
Speech Changes Can Indicate a Stroke
“Someone having a stroke will exhibit changes in speech,” say experts at Carrus Health in Texas. “If asked to speak, the speech will either be slurred or garbled. Speech changes could also include an inability to speak. They may also be confused and have difficulty understanding what’s being asked of them. Ask the person to speak to determine if there are changes in speech.”
Vision Loss Can Be a Sign of a Stroke
“Temporary vision loss can be a sign of an impending stroke. Or, it can be a symptom of a stroke that’s already occurred,” explain doctors at N.J.’s Virtua Health. “Vision complications due to a stroke depend on where the stroke occurs. The majority of visual processing occurs in the occipital lobe, in the back of the brain.”
Balance Issues Can Indicate a Stroke
According to the organization Stroke Awareness, being “unstable with less coordination, stumbling [and being] unable to walk straight [along with] wobbling around, grabbing onto a stationary object [and] tripping over nothing” are sure signs. Also, a dizziness where “you’re feeling faint, lightheaded or like the room is spinning” should be checked out immediately.