What Do Stroke Symptoms Look Like?

If you or a loved one were to have a stroke, do you know all the symptoms to look for and what to do? Every 40 seconds in the United States, someone has a stroke. 1 Understanding stroke, stroke symptoms, and what to do in an emergency is crucial. This is especially true for the senior population– 75% of strokes happen in people age 65 and older. 2

What is a stroke?

Sometimes called a “brain attack,” a stroke is what happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. It can be due to a clot in the brain or a burst blood vessel in the brain. It is a medical emergency. This is because stroke causes damage to parts of the brain. The damage caused by a stroke can lead to death or disability– it is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and 50% of stroke survivors are permanently disabled. 3

Types of Stroke

Not all strokes are the same. There are some differences in what causes a stroke and how it happens. No matter what type of stroke someone has, it can cause serious brain injury.

Ischemic stroke

When a person has an ischemic stroke, they develop a blockage in one of the blood vessels in the brain. This blockage can be a blood clot or it can be the result of plaque buildup in blood vessels (similar to a heart attack). Ischemic strokes are responsible for around 87% of strokes. 4

When blood flow to the brain is blocked, part of the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. With an ischemic stroke, there is a treatment called tPA that can be given to dissolve the clot, but it is best given within 4 hours of the start of symptoms.5 Surgical treatment can also be an option. Because the brain is being damaged while the blockage is happening, every minute counts when it comes to getting medical care.

Hemorrhagic stroke

This type of stroke involves a blood vessel in the brain bursting and bleeding into the brain. Like an ischemic stroke, it causes damage to brain tissue. When this happens, medical care is needed to stop the bleeding. Doctors can give medicine to help with this. There are also procedures and surgery that can stop the bleeding.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

TIAs have earned the nickname “mini-stroke” because they behave like an ischemic stroke but last for a short time, from a few minutes to a few hours. The symptoms of a TIA can be very similar to a stroke. TIAs must also be treated as a medical emergency because you can’t know if someone is having a TIA or a true stroke.

After a person has a TIA, their risk of an ischemic stroke happening in the next 90 days is as high as 17%– with the highest risk during the first week after the TIA. 6

Causes of stroke and stroke prevention

So what causes stroke, and can you prevent it in the first place? Like many illnesses, stroke risk is due to a combination of heredity, lifestyle, age, gender, and chronic health problems. While you can’t do anything about your genetics, age, or gender, there are some changes you can make in your daily habits that can help reduce the risk of stroke.

Here are some common risks for stroke:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking
Diabetes
Heart disease
Sickle cell disease
Alcohol and/or drug abuse
Obesity
Not getting enough physical activity
Previous stroke or TIA
Gender (more common in women)7
Ethnicity (more common in Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Alaskans)8

As you can see, you can control several of these risk factors. A great starting point is to use the American Heart Association’s stroke risk calculator to see where you stand, or ask your doctor to perform a stroke risk assessment. From there, you can take the following steps to reduce your risk of stroke:

If you smoke, ask your doctor for help quitting
Talk to your doctor about whether blood-thinning medication like aspirin is right for you
Follow healthy diet and exercise recommendations, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association
Lower your cholesterol
Lower your blood pressure
If you’re diabetic, control your blood sugar
Keep a healthy weight
Reduce alcohol consumption
Visit your doctor regularly and take medications for chronic conditions as prescribed

Symptoms of stroke and what to do if they happen

If you or a loved one does experience stroke symptoms, do you know what they look like? If you don’t, you’re not alone. In one survey, only 38% of respondents were able to correctly identify all stroke symptoms. 9

So what do stroke symptoms look like? An easy way to remember the most important signs is the acronym F.A.S.T., which stands for:

F= Face drooping- One side of the face may feel numb or droop. When the person smiles, it can appear uneven

A= Arm weakness- One arm may feel weak or numb. When the person lifts both arms up, one may drift back down

S= Speech difficulty- Speech may be slurred, difficult to understand, or the person may not be able to speak at all

T= Time to call 911!- If you notice any of the above symptoms, even if they go away, call 911 immediately.

These are additional stroke symptoms to watch for, especially if they happen suddenly:

Dizziness
Loss of balance and/or coordination
Severe headache
Numbness or tingling anywhere, but especially if it is only on one side of the body
Trouble seeing (may affect only one eye)
Confusion or memory loss
Weakness in any part of the body

Remember, time lost is brain lost! Each minute of stroke, an average of 1.9 million brain cells die.10 First responders such as paramedics can start treating a stroke as soon as they arrive. Always call 911 if you think you are noticing stroke symptoms. Driving to the hospital yourself wastes precious time and can be dangerous if you are experiencing symptoms.

Stay proactive before, during, and after a stroke

The big takeaway from all of this is that a stroke is a serious situation and one that you should work to avoid. Acting immediately if you or a loved one does experience a stroke is important. It’s also critical to stay proactive after a stroke happens. Once you’ve had a stroke, your risk of having another is as high as 23%.11

To lower the risk of a repeat stroke, you can follow the same recommendations that lower your risk of a first-time incident. You’ll also need to stay vigilant for any symptoms of a stroke. For seniors that live alone, this means checking on them frequently and alerting anyone who helps with their care to watch for the stroke symptoms discussed above.

If someone has difficulty with daily tasks and self-care due to a stroke, a professional caregiver can not only help with daily needs, they are excellent at spotting the signs of a stroke and intervening right away. Caresify’s team of in-home caregivers can give you the peace of mind you need if stroke is a concern. You can read more about us here, or call 888-799-5007.

References

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