Signs of a Stroke Before It Happens: Symptoms, Prognosis, and Prevention
Signs of a Stroke Before It Happens: Symptoms, Prognosis, and Prevention
There were 27,428 Australians who experienced a stroke for the first time in their lives in 2020, which equates to one stroke every 19 minutes. In New Zealand, over 9,500 strokes are experienced every year – that's one every 55 minutes. When a stroke happens, it can be a scary and life-threatening emergency. What’s even more frightening is that the first signs of a stroke often come without warning — leaving little time to seek medical treatment. But what if there were ways to spot an impending stroke before it happened? Knowing the warning signs of a stroke could help you react accordingly and prevent serious health complications. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the signs, symptoms and prognosis of a stroke before it happens.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a medical condition in which the blood supply to a part of the brain is disrupted. It often happens as a result of an obstruction or rupture of an artery that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the brain, resulting in damage to neurons (brain cells) and compromising their ability to communicate with one another. This can lead to disability, such as paralysis, and impaired speech or vision loss, depending on the location and severity of the stroke.
Types of stroke
The three types of strokes are classified according to the cause:
Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic strokes account for around 87% of all strokes and occur when there is an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The most common cause of ischemic strokes is atherosclerosis, where blockages form due to fatty deposits that build up along artery walls over time and reduce or even stop blood flow (also known as a ‘clot’). Other causes include small particle emboli from wear-and-tear inside arteries, and arterial spasms from certain medications like cocaine/amphetamines), among others.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 13% of cases and occur when there’s bleeding within or around your brain due either to malformations (arteriovenous malformation - AVM) or weakness in your vascular system (aneurysm). With this type of stroke, you can also experience other intracranial hemorrhages which include subarachnoid hemorrhage & intraventricular hemorrhage among others involving bleeding not only between but into structures located inside your skull as well. Other factors related to hemorrhagic stroke include:
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Overtreatment with blood thinners (anticoagulants)
Bulges at weak spots in your blood vessel walls (aneurysms)
Trauma (such as a car accident)
Protein deposits in blood vessel walls that leads to weakness in the vessel wall (cerebral amyloid angiopathy)
Ischemic stroke leading to hemorrhage
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Occasionally referred to as a mini-stroke; TIAs last anywhere between minutes & hours before their symptoms resolve spontaneously without any further effects afterwards. These episodes are more like warning signs rather than actually manifesting into fully developed strokes since their likelihood increases if further steps aren't taken towards prevention. It is important for people experiencing them not to disregard these occurrences lightly due to ailments similar being passed off potentially causing serious health issues down line later on through prolonged negligence.
If you think you're having any kind of symptoms associated with stroke it's important to seek medical attention immediately. Even though many stroke survivors can recover completely after proper treatment, even those with minor cases have been documented with lasting consequences.
What causes a stroke?
Strokes can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
and heart disease.
Other risk factors include:
Inactivity
Obesity
Family history of stroke
Age (over 65)
and gender (women are more likely than men to have a stroke).
Additionally, certain medical conditions such as atrial fibrillation and aneurysms can increase a person’s risk of stroke
Common signs of stroke
The warning signs of a stroke can vary, but common ones include sudden numbness or paralysis in the face, arms, and legs; difficulty speaking; confusion; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; dizziness or loss of balance/coordination; and severe headache. Sometimes a stroke happens gradually, but you're likely to have one or more sudden symptoms like these:
Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side
Confusion or trouble understanding other people
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
Problems walking or staying balanced or coordinated
Dizziness
Severe headache
Act F.A.S.T. to identify stroke warning signs
The acronym F.A.S.T. is used to remind people of the four main warning signs of a stroke and can help you save lives. F.A.S.T stands for:
Face drooping
Is one side of the face drooping or numb? Ask the person to smile to check.
Arm weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms to check.
Speech difficulty
Is their speech slurred or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Time to call 000
If someone shows any of these symptoms, time is critical so it’s important to call 000 (for Australia) or 111 (for New Zealand) as soon as possible and get them medical attention.
Can strokes be prevented?
Did you know that more than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented? Strokes can be prevented by controlling risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, and heart disease. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking are also great ways to reduce the risk of having a stroke. Additionally, speaking with your doctor about any medications you may be taking is important to ensure that they do not put you at risk for a stroke. It is also important to know your family history of stroke, as this can increase your chances of having one. Finally, it is important to stay on top of regular health screenings and checkups with your doctor in order to catch any medical problems early on before they become more serious.
Related reading:
What stops older people from exercising and how you can help
Risk factors for stroke
There are many factors that can make you more likely to experience a stroke. The stroke risk factors include:
Diet
Eating a diet high in processed and fried foods, sugar, and saturated or trans fats can increase your risk of stroke. It is important to eat healthy, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to lessen your chances of having a stroke.
Related reading: 11 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget
Inactivity
Lack of physical activity can increase the risk of stroke, as it leads to obesity and increases cholesterol levels. Getting enough exercise and staying active is key to a healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk of stroke.
Heavy alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption can damage your heart and lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke.
Tobacco use
Smoking and other forms of tobacco use cause the arteries to narrow, leading to an increased risk of stroke.
Family history
Having a family history of stroke can increase your risk, as genetic factors may play a role in developing stroke.
Age
The risk of stroke increases with age, as the blood vessels become less elastic and weaker over time
Gender
Women have a higher risk of stroke than men due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
Health history
High blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can all increase the risk of stroke.
Effects of a stroke
Strokes can have a range of both short and long-term effects on an individual, depending on the severity of their stroke. These effects can include physical, emotional, and cognitive impairments. Physical impairments may include paralysis or weakness in one side of the body, trouble walking or speaking, vision changes, and problems with coordination and balance. Here are the common complications that occur after a stroke:
Paralysis or loss of muscle movement
Speech and language problems
Memory loss
Cognitive impairment
Seizures
Depression and anxiety
Swallowing difficulties
Pain or numbness in the limbs
Fatigue
Difficulty talking or swallowing
Changes in behaviour and self-care ability
Tests to diagnose stroke
If you suspect that you or someone close to you may have had a stroke, it's important to understand the tests your doctor will use to diagnose the condition; understanding these diagnostic tools will help put your mind at ease as they provide greater insight into what's happening in your body. Read on to learn more about the various tests used when diagnosing stroke and how each one can help determine whether intervention should take place.
Blood tests
Regular blood tests can be used to check for clotting factors, cholesterol levels, and other substances that may indicate an increased risk of stroke.
MRI and CT scan
CT scans are used to evaluate the brain for any signs of bleeding or tissue damage, as well as any blockages in the blood vessels. MRI scans
MRI scans provide a more detailed look at the brain and can be used to detect any damage or blockages that may indicate a stroke.
EKG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is used to measure electrical activity in the heart, which can help detect any abnormal rhythms or irregularities that indicate a stroke.
Cerebral angiogram
A cerebral angiogram is an imaging test that uses a special dye to trace the blood vessels in the brain and detect any blockages or narrowing of the arteries.
Carotid ultrasound
A carotid ultrasound uses sound waves to measure the flow of blood through the carotid arteries, which can help identify any blockages that may be causing a stroke
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an imaging test that uses sound waves to evaluate the heart and can help detect any abnormalities in its structure or function that may indicate a stroke.
Stroke treatment
Treatment for a stroke depends on the type and severity. Generally, treatments may include medications such as aspirin or clot-busting drugs to help reduce blockages in blood vessels; surgery to repair the damage done by a hemorrhagic stroke; and physical therapy to help regain strength, balance, coordination, and mobility lost due to the stroke. It is important to note that some treatments for stroke may only be effective if administered within the first few hours. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke.
Recovering from a stroke
Strokes can have devastating consequences, leaving survivors struggling to cope with their newfound physical and emotional hurdles. But while recovery may seem daunting, there is hope. A combination of medical intervention and determination help many find the strength to make progress in the wake of a stroke
Speech therapy
Speech therapy is the most common form of rehabilitation after a stroke, as it helps to restore communication abilities. It can also help with swallowing and eating problems that may be caused by the stroke.
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive therapy is designed to help stroke survivors regain their ability to think, reason, and remember. This can include learning how to use strategies for problem-solving or time management.
Relearning sensory skills
For those who have lost sensation in certain parts of their body, relearning sensory skills can help restore the ability to recognise touch, temperature, and pressure.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy can help stroke survivors regain the use of their limbs and improve mobility. This may include exercises for flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists focus on helping survivors relearn how to complete everyday tasks such as dressing, bathing, eating, grooming, and other activities of daily living.
How Tunstall can support stroke survivors
Dealing with the aftermath of a stroke can become highly challenging. This is why Tunstall Healthcare's Connected Care solutions are constantly evolving to help individuals living with illnesses and conditions live healthy, safe, and independent lives. Our devoted Customer Care Centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist you whenever and wherever you need it. We also work closely with our clients, carers, and allied health providers to achieve improved health results for you and your loved ones. Contact us today to learn more about the products we offer.
