Strokes are a serious health issue that can often be life threatening. They can be especially dangerous to women. Strokes occur when your brain falls short of blood supply and can happen to anyone, at any time. It is crucial to know and understand the signs and symptoms your body may present when it is experiencing a stroke. Every second counts when this is happening and the quicker you seek medical attention, the more likely it is to save your life.
When suffering from a stroke, part of your brain will not receive blood supply. This may happen due to a blocked or ruptured blood vessel. It results in cognitive and physical impairment. This may lead to lack of speech, empty thoughts, and severe confusion. In addition, you could also experience partial paralysis on one side of your body. It is vital to know the warning signs of a stroke so that you can acquire a woman’s health check.
Among other indications of a stroke, here are some more common symptoms found in women:
Speech Difficulty
One of the most common symptoms before and after a stroke has occurred, is difficulty with speech and understanding words. This means, some people will start to slur or be unable to physically say any words. This can also lead to extreme confusion, affecting your ability to understand what others are trying to communicate to you.
Numbness Or Paralysis
Experiencing numbness in your face, legs, or arms can be another alarming sign of a stroke. You may not feel your arms or legs operating properly. Another extremely common symptom can be one side of the mouth or face ‘drooping’ or looking ‘saggy’ which can lead to one eye becoming blurry or blackened sight.
Headache
When a stroke hits you, you may experience a sudden headache with interrupted consciousness. Moreover, you may start seeing double, feeling dizzy or nauseous. The headache can come on very suddenly and start off mild and gradually worsen, or in some cases it can be immediately painful.
Why Should You Act FAST?
Strokes require immediate action to save someone’s life. So when you find yourself in a situation with a person who is suffering from a stroke, you need to take the F.A.S.T. action. Why? Because effective stroke treatments may only work if diagnosed in a short period of time.
Usually, you must rush a stroke patient to the hospital within three hours of early symptoms. Take a look at the F.A.S.T test:
Face – Is their face drooping? Can they smile or copy your facial expressions?
Arms – Ask them to raise their arms. Try raising both arms to see if any arm fails to lift and falls.
Speech – Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. For instance, ask them to say “I love my dog”. Does it sound strange? Slurred? Can they not repeat after you at all?
Time – If any of these signs are a cause for concern in the patient, call 911 immediately and inform them of the time of the stroke, as this can help healthcare specialists to provide the best possible treatment.
Final Words
Strokes are life-threatening and it is always beneficial to understand the warning signs when you see them; this could save someone’s life. Be it yourself, or a fellow being, you should keep an eye out for all mentioned symptoms.
