A Week Before a Stroke, Your Body Will Warn You These Signals, American Academy of Neurology Reports

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4. Dizziness or fatigue without a reason

In a study, it is shown that vertigo and dizziness is also a common factor among patients who had a stroke. The state of confusion could be the result of the affected brain side.

5. A sudden migraine or a severe headache

During a stroke, the blood flow to the brain is either blocked or cut off due to an interruption caused in the bloodstream. That can cause a vessel tear or damage resulting in a very sudden migraine or a headache.

6. Stiffness in the neck or shoulder pain

A ruptured blood vessel in the brain can cause a stiff neck or shoulder. If you are unable to touch your chin to your chest (considering you’re not obese or have any other condition), go and see a doctor immediately.

Who is at risk here?

According to a report by NCBI, these are the people who are more likely to have a stroke:

  • People with high blood pressure — A blood pressure is considered to be high if it’s 140/ 90 mmHg or above.
  • Age and Gender — Older men are more likely to have a stroke than a young person or women.
  • Smoking — Smoking can affect the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain and it can also cause a lot of damage to the blood vessels resulting in high BP.
  • Diabetes — Diabetes is caused by a deficiency of the hormone called insulin that regulates the sugar level in the body. When there is a lack of insulin, the sugar won’t be able to reach to the parts of the body where the energy is needed — like the brain, for example.
  • Heart Disease — Heart disease can cause blood clots, sometimes resulting in the interruption of the blood flow which can lead to a stroke.

Other risk factors:

  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Obesity
  • Junk food/unhealthy diet
  • Depression/anxiety
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Any other neurological problem

What to do in the case of an emergency?

If you’re alone:

  • Call 911 or your local emergency number.
  • Don’t drive to the hospital by yourself.
  • Do not eat or drink anything.
  • Don’t be anxious — your chances of survival are as high as 60%-70 % if you’re below 60 years old.

If you’re supporting a patient:

  • If you’re someone who’s helping a patient, keep them on their side with their head elevated.
  • Sometimes, they might vomit so be prepared to support the head.
  • Speak in a calm manner and make sure they’re not anxious.
  • Observe the patient carefully and notify the emergency operator about the status.

Do you know more about the signs and symptoms of a stroke? Feel free to share what you know in the comments and make sure you share the article with the people you care about!

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