Stroke symptoms

Many people have been caught unaware when a stroke hit them. This might be because they did not know that they were already experiencing the signs of their impending doom yet they did nothing about them.

These warning signs could occur singly or could also strike as a group. Most of these could occur for a few seconds but when they last for a few minutes, it is time to dial 9-11 and ask for medical help:

• Facial numbness or weakness. The numbing feeling is not isolated on the facial muscles, it could also be distributed on the patient’s extremities (arms and legs). It is especially alarming when the numbness can be felt on only one side of the body (this is the most common sign of stroke).
• When the patient feels sudden confusion; has trouble with his speech; or has trouble understanding people or his surroundings—this could result into disorientation.
• When the patient, all of a sudden, has trouble using one or both of his eyes. When the vision becomes blurred or blocked, and it doesn’t clear up after a few minutes, it is time to call for an ambulance.
• Sudden problems on walking; the patient could also experience extreme dizziness; or he could experience vertigo (loss of coordination and balance).
• When a person experiences sudden headache or migraine with no apparent cause, it could also be a sign of this illness.

It is important to know all of these signs so that you could be able to prepare for an emergency. Know that all of them need not be present so that it could be concluded as a stroke. If there is one or more of these tell-tale signs, never delay! Don’t look at these as ordinary fatigue or stress. Remember that this illness has already taken so many lives so better be prepared to fight it!