A stroke is a medical emergency and its symptoms may often seem subtle and easy to dismiss- but if emergency medical help is not given immediately, it can lead to long lasting paralysis and will require extensive rehabilitation for a person to get better. In many cases, symptoms can be observed even a month before the actual event occurs. So, let us look at the early symptoms of stroke and see how emergency stroke treatment can help improve the long term prognosis of an affected person, if given within the golden hour. 

Early Symptoms of Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain gets interrupted. The brain is very metabolically active and requires large amounts of oxygen and nutrients for it to perform all of its functions. If blood flow is interrupted for even a minute or less than 5 minutes for that matter, it can cause massive cell death and can lead to severe neurological complications. There are two main types of strokes- ischemic vs. hemorrhagic stroke respectively. An ischemic stroke is caused when a blood clot breaks off from elsewhere and blocks an artery – and this is the most common cause for strokes to occur. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and gushes out- causing blood pressure to bottom out immediately. 

Early symptoms like sudden weakness, numbness or tingling of any kind, not being able to hold onto any object and dropping stuff more often, trouble with speech- like slurring or not being able to understand words or conversations are common but are ignored because they don’t stay for long and last for a few minutes or moments at the most. Other symptoms include a splitting headache or vision changes and having to deal with extreme mental lethargy. These symptoms may be seen almost a month before the actual stroke occurs and it is due to a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

What Happens When You Ignore Stoke Warning Signs?

When you ignore a TIA, it can increase the risk of long term paralysis, severe cognitive decline, speech paralysis and loss and lead to permanent brain injury. 

What To Do If There are Signs of a Stroke?

Use the FAST acronym to help you decide- If you notice- you face drooping or cannot smile, your arm feels weak and have speech issues – you should opt for emergency stroke treatment. Call 108 or any local ambulance you may know of and make sure you tell emergency personnel when symptoms began. If there is none you can call, ask someone to drive you to the nearest hospital. Don’t drink or eat anything and ask someone to wait with you. 

As soon as you get to the hospital, you will be asked to go in for a physical examination – to check your reflexes, coordination and balance. Imaging like CT or MRI will be done to check for any bleeding or clot presence. Blood tests are done next to check for any clotting abnormalities or the presence of cholesterol rich plaques. An ECG may also be recommended to ascertain cardiac function. 

Post-Stroke Recovery

Rehabilitation after a stroke can take a long time- as you may need extensive therapy to move and speak again. You will need to make ergonomic changes at home and make sure to eat well and stop smoking – so you can prevent another stroke from occurring. 

Conclusion

Some stroke prevention tips to now include keeping your blood cholesterol, sugar and pressure levels in check and not smoking or drinking. You should also try not to get too stressed at work or learn how to manage stress more effectively by finding an easy outlet for it. You can go in for yearly check ups. Emergency stroke treatment aims to provide medical help within 1 hour to prevent long lasting neurological damage – as blood flow to the brain needs to be restored as soon as possible. Estimates show that about 1.9 billion neurons die every minute, after an ischemic episode in the brain of some kind. This can lead to significant impairment, which is why quick diagnosis and prompt treatment along with proper rehabilitation are very crucial in dealing with a stroke. 

 FAQs

1. What are the early warning signs of a stroke?

Early warning signs include sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision loss in one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, and a severe headache without a known cause.

2. What does FAST mean in stroke recognition?

FAST stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty and Time to call emergency services. It helps people recognize stroke symptoms quickly and respond without delay.

3. Who is at higher risk of stroke?

People with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, irregular heart rhythm, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking habits, and a family history of stroke face higher risk. Risk also increases with age.

4. Can young adults have a stroke?

Yes. Young adults can have a stroke due to blood clotting disorders, heart defects, head or neck artery injury, substance use, infections, or uncontrolled chronic conditions.

5. What is the difference between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke?

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying the brain is blocked by a clot. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding within or around the brain.