The Early Signs Of Stroke | Symptoms, Treatments And Recovery

Every 40 seconds someone in the US suffers a stroke.

Strokes kill approximately 140,000 people in the United States every year. Which accounts for one out of twenty deaths.

So, how can you prevent this from happening to you and your loved ones?

We discuss common stroke signs and symptoms in detail on the next page to help better educate people on what they should be looking for.

Stroke Signs & Symptoms

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is very crucial.

The faster you act, the lesser chances of getting severe brain damage.

Here are the symptoms to look out for:

  • Being confused suddenly
  • Having trouble speaking
  • Having difficulty understanding speech
  • Feeling a sudden numbness or weakness in one side of the body such as in the arms, legs or face.
  • Having trouble seeing in one or both eyes suddenly
  • Experiencing sudden severe headache without a known cause
  • Having trouble walking
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Sudden lack of coordination

Stroke Treatments

Remember that time is of the essence, so it’s important that you call an ambulance right away.

Do not drive the person to the hospital, as treatment needs to start right away, and EMS plays a huge role in that.

As soon as you arrive at the hospital, the health professionals will take you in an emergency room where they will ask certain questions such as medical history and the time the symptoms started. Brain scans will also be performed to show what type of stroke happened.

Then, the medical professionals will determine the best treatment options. They may prescribe a medicine to help break up blood clots if you get to the hospital within 3 hours of the first symptom.

You may also work with experts such as neurologists and neurosurgeons if brain surgery is needed. These are necessary in order to stop the bleeding and save the brain tissue.

For instance, the person who experienced the stroke may need to undergo endovascular procedure to treat hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes may be treated with surgery.

People who have already experienced a stroke are at high risk for another attack. Keep in mind that 1 out of 4 stroke survivors experience another stroke within five years. And the greatest risk of another stroke is during the first week.

Stroke Recovery

Rehabilitation is important for those who are recovering from stroke.

Before you get discharged from the hospital, social workers will help find different care services and caregiver support for your recovery.

The recovery process can often take weeks, if not months, and needs to be taken seriously to meet recovery goals set forth by medical professionals.