Stroke symptoms

The loss of blood flow to the brain damages tissues within the brain. Symptoms of a stroke show up in the body parts controlled by the damaged areas of the brain.

The sooner a person having a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it’s helpful to know the signs of a stroke so you can act quickly. Stroke symptoms can include:

• paralysis
• numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
• trouble speaking or understanding speech
• confusion
• slurring speech
• vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
• trouble walking
• loss of balance or coordination
• dizziness
• severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause

A stroke requires immediate medical attention. If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, have someone call +233593999730 right away. Prompt treatment is key to preventing the following outcomes:

• brain damage
• long-term disability
• death

It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with a stroke, so don’t be afraid to call +23359399730 if you think you recognize the signs of a stroke for a natural remedy. 

Symptoms of a stroke in women

Stroke is the fourth-leadingTrusted Source cause of death in U.S. women. Women have a higher lifetime risk of having a stroke than men.

While some stroke signs are the same in women and men, some are more common in women.

Stroke signs that occur more often in women include:

• nausea or vomiting
• hallucination
• pain
• general weakness
• shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• fainting or losing consciousness
• seizures
• confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
• sudden behavioral changes, especially increased agitation

Women are more likely than men to die from a stroke, so it’s important to be able to identify a stroke as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a stroke in men

Stroke is the fifth-leadingTrusted Source cause of death in men. Men are more likely to have a stroke in their younger years than women, but they’re less likely to die from it, according to the National Institutes of HealthTrusted Source.

Men and women can have some of the same signs and symptoms of stroke (see above). However, some stroke symptoms occur more often in men. These include:

• drooping on one side of the face or an uneven smile
• slurred speech, difficulty speaking, and trouble understanding other speech
• arm weakness or muscle weakness on one side of the body

While some symptoms may differ between men and women, it’s equally important for both to be able to spot a stroke early and get help.

Types of stroke

Strokes fall into three main categories: transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke. These categories are further broken down into other types of strokes, including:

• embolic stroke
• thrombotic stroke
• intracerebral stroke
• subarachnoid stroke

The type of stroke you have affects your treatment and recovery process. Read more about the different types of strokes.

Ischemic stroke

During an ischemic stroke, the arteries supplying blood to the brain narrow or become blocked. These blockages are caused by blood clots or blood flow that’s severely reduced. They can also be caused by pieces of plaque due to atherosclerosis breaking off and blocking a blood vessel.

The two most common types of ischemic strokes are thrombotic and embolic. A thrombotic stroke happens when a blood clot forms in one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. The clot passes through the bloodstream and becomes lodged, which blocks blood flow. An embolic stroke is when a blood clot or other debris forms in another part of the body and then travels to the brain.

According to the CDC, 87 percentTrusted Source of strokes are ischemic strokes. Find out why ischemic strokes occur.

Embolic stroke

An embolic stroke is one of two types of ischemic strokes. It occurs when a blood clot forms in another part of the body — often the heart or arteries in the upper chest and neck — and moves through the bloodstream to the brain. The clot gets stuck in the brain’s arteries, where it stops the flow of blood and causes a stroke.

An embolic stroke may be the result of a heart condition. Atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat, can cause blood clots to develop in the heart. These clots may dislodge and travel through the bloodstream and into the brain.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack, often called a TIA or ministroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked temporarily. Symptoms, which are similar to those of a full stroke, are typically temporary and disappear after a few minutes or hours.

A TIA is usually caused by a blood clot. It serves as a warning of a future stroke, so don’t ignore a TIA. Seek the same treatment you would for a major stroke.

According to the CDC, more than one-thirdTrusted Source of people who experience a TIA and don’t get treatment have a major stroke within a year. Up to 10 to 15 percentTrusted Source of people who experience a TIA have a major stroke within three months. Here’s how to understand TIAs and how to prevent a more serious stroke in the future.

Hemorrhagic stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain breaks open or leaks blood. The blood from that artery creates excess pressure in the skull and swells the brain, damaging brain cells and tissues.

The two types of hemorrhagic strokes are intracerebral and subarachnoid. An intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke, happens when the tissues surrounding the brain fill with blood after an artery bursts. The subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke is less common. It causes bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it.

According to the American Heart Association, about 13 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic. 

What causes a stroke?

The cause of a stroke depends on the type of stroke. The three main types of stroke are transient ischemic attack (TIA), ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke.

A TIA is caused by a temporary blockage in an artery that leads to the brain. The blockage, typically a blood clot, stops blood from flowing to certain parts of the brain. A TIA typically lasts for a few minutes up to a few hours, and then the blockage moves and blood flow is restored.

Like a TIA, an ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in an artery that leads to the brain. This blockage may be a blood clot, or it may be caused by atherosclerosis. With this condition, plaque (a fatty substance) builds up on the walls of a blood vessel. A piece of the plaque can break off and lodge in an artery, blocking the flow of blood and causing an ischemic stroke.

A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is caused by a burst or leaking blood vessel. Blood seeps into or around the tissues of the brain, causing pressure and damaging brain cells.

There are two possible causes of a hemorrhagic stroke. An aneurysm (a weakened, bulging section of a blood vessel) can be caused by high blood pressure and can lead to a burst blood vessel. Less often, a condition called an arteriovenous malformation, which is an abnormal connection between your veins and arteries, can lead to bleeding in the brain. Keep reading about the causes of different types of strokes.

Risk factors for stroke

Certain risk factors make you more susceptible to stroke. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source, the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to have a stroke. Risk factors for stroke include:

Diet

An unhealthy diet that increases your risk of stroke is one that’s high in:

• salt
• saturated fats
• trans fats
• cholesterol

Inactivity

Inactivity, or lack of exercise, can also raise your risk for stroke.

Regular exercise has a number of health benefits. The CDC recommends that adults get at least 2.5 hoursTrusted Source of aerobic exercise every week. This can mean simply a brisk walk a few times a week.

Alcohol consumption

Your risk for stroke also increases if you drink too much alcohol. Alcohol consumption should be done in moderation. This means no more than one drink per day for women, and no more than two for men. More than that may raise blood pressure levels as well as triglyceride levels, which can cause atherosclerosis.

Tobacco use

Using tobacco in any form also raises your risk for stroke, since it can damage your blood vessels and heart. This is further increased when smoking, because your blood pressure rises when you use nicotine.

Personal background

There are certain personal risk factors for stroke that you can’t control. Stroke risk can be linked to your:

• Family history. Stroke risk is higher in some families because of genetic health issues, such as high blood pressure.
• Sex. According to the CDCTrusted Source, while both women and men can have strokes, they’re more common in women than in men in all age groups.
• Age. The older you are, the more likely you are to have a stroke.
• Race and ethnicity. Caucasians, Asian Americans, and Hispanics are less likely to have a stroke than African-Americans, Alaska Natives, and American Indians.

Health history

Certain medical conditions are linked to stroke risk. These include:

• a previous stroke or TIA
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• heart disorders, such as coronary artery disease
• heart valve defects
• enlarged heart chambers and irregular heartbeats
• sickle cell disease
• diabetes

To find out about your specific risk factors for stroke, talk to your doctor. In the meantime, find out what you can do to lower your risk of stroke.