15 Most Common Symptoms of a Stroke

If you suspect you or a loved one might be about to suffer a stroke, then it is absolutely critical that you get help and support as fast as possible. Every second counts and the longer this goes on, the more damage it is likely to leave lasting, permanent damage.

A stroke is a type of attack targeting the brain. In that regard it can be considered to be comparable to a heart attack, with the key difference being the area affected. These occur when supply to the blood is cut off for one reason or another, whether due to a clot or other issues. This is the most common type of stroke, referred to as an ischaemic stroke. However, in other cases, it is also possible to suffer from a stroke caused by bleeding in or around the brain, which is known as a haemorrhagic stroke. Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is also referred to as ‘mini stroke’ and this is used to describe stroke symptoms that last for less than 24 hours.

No matter the nature of the stroke, this will lead to an insufficient supply of blood to the brain and when that happens, it can cause brain cells to die. The longer the stroke goes on for, the more cells can die and the more severe the damage can be.

The severity and nature of the stroke symptoms will also be somewhat defined by the region of the brain that is most affected. Strokes in some areas can damage movement, while others can affect language more.

This is why it is so important to ensure that you get treatment as quickly as possible: to minimize damage and to ensure a speedy and full recovery.

Here are fifteen signs and symptoms that you should look out for…

1.  Face

The acronym ‘FAST’ is used to teach people about the symptoms of strokes and how to response. The ‘F’ in Fast stands for ‘Face’ which refers to the fact that the face can begin to droop if someone is experiencing a stroke. Often this is most noticeable when they smile, in which case they may only appear to smile with one half of their mouth. This can be accompanied with numbness in the face.
Other things can cause this symptom, such as muscle spasms, so it is important to ensure that you look for a combination of symptoms when making a rapid diagnosis.