Brain stroke is a medical condition whereby the oxygen supply to the brain cells gets cut off wholly or substantially, leading to damage and consequent death of the brain cells. The brain is undoubtedly one of the most vital parts of the body. Any harm to it can result in partial or total loss of control over bodily functions. Strokes can also be fatal. Hence, it is essential to know the warning signs of a stroke.
Below are listed some of the most common brain stroke symptoms –
- Partial or complete paralysis– A severe stroke can lead to paralysis or an inability of a particular part of the body to move or do any of its regular activities.
- A feeling of weakness in the muscles of the face, arms, or legs – A droop or lopsidedness in the face, arm, or legs is a very evident brain stroke syndrome.
- Difficulty in speaking clearly – The patient may lose the ability to speak coherently.
- A problem in understanding leading to confusion or slow response – The brain controls a human’s cognitive functions. Any damage to the brain can lead to partial or total loss of these basic capabilities.
- Irritation for no particular reason – It is common for people to be irritable now and then, but sudden and unexplained agitations can be a brain stroke symptom.
- Blurred vision – Vision aberrations are prevalent brain stroke symptoms. Usual vision problems include- double vision and loss of sight in one or both eyes.
- Trouble in general activities like walking or standing straight – The brain is the center of all neural and motor coordination. Hence, damage to brain cells will result in a lack of this coordination, resulting in imbalance.
- Sudden spasm – Sudden spasms are seen in patients who experience a stroke.
- Seizures – A patient having a brain stroke may exhibit sudden seizures due to the incapability of the brain to control the body’s movements.
- Headache – It is one of the most common brain stroke symptoms and yet one of the most overlooked ones. Headaches can occur for various reasons, but someone who is having frequent and unexplained headaches should consult a doctor. It could be an indication of a stroke.
Any of the above-stated brain stroke symptoms can easily indicate a person is undergoing a brain stroke.
Types of brain strokes and their identifying symptoms
- Ischemic stroke – It is the most common kind of stroke. It occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked. The ischemic brain stroke symptoms include-
- Numbness and weakness in certain parts of the body like the face and arms
- Vision aberrations
- Lack of coordination and imbalance
- Transient Ischemic stroke – It is a minor stroke condition. But it is a symptom of an impending major brain stroke. Such a stroke is marked by a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain.
The transient ischemic brain stroke symptoms include-
- Dizziness and imbalance
- Severe headaches
- Slurred speech
- Hemorrhagic stroke – It results in bleeding in the brain due to the rupture of a blood vessel. It results in severe damage to the brain cells. The hemorrhagic brain stroke symptoms are as follows-
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Intense headache
The F-A-S-T way of identifying a brain stroke
It is one of the easiest ways of identifying a brain stroke. It is a method of checking for all the primary brain stroke symptoms in a patient.
- F – Face drooping – The patient is asked to smile, and the asymmetry of the smile or lopsidedness of the face is considered a brain stroke symptom.
- A-Arms weakness – The patient is asked to lift his arms, and the involuntary downward shift of one of the arms is yet another symptom.
- S – Speech difficulty – The patient needs to say a sentence, and the slurred speech is yet another giveaway sign of a brain stroke.
- T – Time to call for emergency services – If the patient shows all the above symptoms, it is time to take the patient to the hospital. Time here is of the utmost value, for once the stroke starts to damage the brain cells, the medics only get a few hours to stabilize the stroke and reverse the damage. Time lost in any way can be fatal for the patient.best neurosurgery hospital in India
Importance of identifying brain stroke symptoms
The brain is the controller of innumerable activities in the human body. So when a brain stroke symptom surfaces in a person, it generally shows up through an impairment in one or various functions of the body. In layman’s terms, reading and recording the brain stroke symptom in a patient can lead to the identification and quick treatment of the same, which can prove to be crucial in avoiding a fatality or serious brain damage. Hence, it is crucial to be familiar with brain stroke symptoms. The study becomes more necessary if one has a history of strokes in the family or has high blood pressure and cholesterol problems.