What does a stroke feel like? Warning signs, symptoms and prevention
A stroke is a serious medical emergency that can severely impact a person's health and well-being. Strokes are the second leading cause of death and the third main cause of disability across the globe. Each year, approximately 795,000 people will suffer from stroke in the United States alone – that’s an average of one stroke every 40 seconds.
Even though these numbers are startling, it's important to know that when it comes to strokes, being informed and acting quickly can potentially save a life and prevent long-term disability.
This article will help you better understand common stroke symptoms, what it feels like to have a stroke, different risk factors and ways you can reduce your risk of a stroke. Additionally, you will learn how to act fast if you see someone who’s showing signs of a stroke.
What does a stroke feel like? Common warning signs and symptoms
During a stroke, a person may only feel one or a few symptoms, like dizziness, face drooping, trouble walking, weakness in one side of the body or a severe headache. Since many of the warning signs of stroke are not painful, they may be easy to dismiss and can cause someone to delay medical attention.
But when someone is having a stroke, time is of the essence. The most effective treatments for stroke will work best if the symptoms are recognized and diagnosed within three hours of signs first appearing.
Common stroke symptoms and warning signs include:
- Numbness, weakness or loss of control of the face, arms or legs
- Difficulty speaking clearly or understanding what someone else is saying
- Confusion or disorientation
- Trouble seeing clearly with one or both eyes
- Loss of balance, coordination or difficulty walking
- A severe headache
Act F.A.S.T. to spot a stroke
Since it can be overwhelming to remember the different signs and symptoms of a stroke when under stress, the American Stroke Association came up with F.A.S.T., an acronym to help people identify the key signs of stroke and take action.
Act F.A.S.T. stands for:
- F — Face drooping: Ask the person to smile. Is one side of the face drooping or numb?
- A — Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise their arms. Are one or both arms weak, numb or falling back down?
- S — Speech difficulty: Is the person having trouble speaking? Are they slurring their words?
- T — Time to call 911: If one or more signs of stroke are present, call 911 right away.
If you think someone may be having a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T. Never drive someone who you think may be having a stroke to the hospital yourself. Call 911 immediately and wait for an ambulance to arrive. When possible, take note of the time that the person who may have had a stroke was last normal.
Risk factors for stroke
Some of the risk factors for stroke include your age and personal health history. For instance, over 70% of strokes happen to people who are over the age of 65. Additionally, if a person has previously had a stroke or a ministroke, it increases their odds of having another stroke.
Additional factors that may increase a person’s risk of having a stroke:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Low physical activity levels
- An unbalanced diet made up of high-processed foods
- Alcohol consumption
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Hormonal birth control pills
- Atrial fibrillation
- Certain autoimmune diseases such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when the brain's blood flow is interrupted, causing brain cells to die. This can be a result of blood flow being blocked (an ischemic stroke) or sudden bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). In some cases, strokes can result in death or long-term disabilities.
There are two types of major strokes:
- Ischemic stroke: When blood clots or other particles, like built-up plaque (fatty deposits), block the blood vessels that allow blood to flow to the brain. This blockage creates a lack of oxygen, which causes brain cells to start to die within a few minutes.
- Hemorrhagic stroke: When a brain artery ruptures or breaks open, it causes sudden bleeding in the brain. The blood creates too much pressure on the brain cells, which can cause them to die.
The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke. Only around 13% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes. There is a third type of stroke called a ministroke, which is different from the major types of stroke because blood flow to the brain is only blocked for a short window of time.
What is a ministroke?
A ministroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA), is when blood clots temporarily block blood supply and oxygen to the brain. In ministrokes, the blood clots usually break apart quickly enough to prevent long-term damage. Typically, a TIA will last under 5 minutes.
Even though long-term damage from ministrokes is less common, they are still medical emergencies, just like ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.
Ministrokes can also be a warning sign of a more serious stroke in the future. Between 10% to 15% of people who have a ministroke, will have a major stroke within the following three months. If you think you or someone you know is having a ministroke, call 911 immediately and request an ambulance.
Can you prevent a stroke?
Over 80% of strokes can be prevented. Even though some risk factors may be out of your control, there are things you can do to lower your risk of stroke. Changing some lifestyle habits like quitting smoking, eating a more balanced diet and getting more exercise can help you reduce your risk of stroke.
Additionally, it’s important to stay up-to-date on your annual physical exams and get your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure (hypertension) is the biggest risk factor for stroke because it can lead to blocked or weakened arteries. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can keep your blood pressure under control and at a healthy level.
Your primary care provider can also help you create any lifestyle changes and discuss preventative care measures based on your medical history.
How Sesame can help
Sesame lets you choose from top-rated healthcare providers who can assist you with managing risk factors or answering medical questions you may have about stroke. You can shop for affordable, same-day online doctor visit appointments with top-rated licensed providers and specialists. During your appointment, you can discuss symptoms, learn preventive measures and even get prescriptions if appropriate – all from the comfort of your home. With Sesame, expert care is just a few clicks away.
