5 Warning Signs of a Stroke you should Never Ignore !! Our lifestyle is a major factor influencing our health. Millions of people around the world have adopted an unhealthy lifestyle making them more susceptible to different illnesses and disabilities. Today, we see a rise in problems such as metabolic diseases, cardiovascular problems, joint pain, hypertension, obesity, and stroke.
A brain stroke is a life-threatening condition. According to statistics, each year around 800,000 people experiences a stroke (new or recurrent). Brain stroke is one of the leading causes of death and adult disability in the US. A brain stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is cut off, resulting in cell death in the brain. The cells die as a consequence of oxygen deprivation. If a stroke happens it can lead to disability as the brain is a complex organ controlling the body and in the case of a stroke, it is unable to perform its functions.
Causes of Stroke:
We commonly consider cardiovascular diseases and strokes as more prevalent among the people at the age of 65 or more. However, this concept is changing as stroke is becoming common among individuals of all ages.
Following are the reasons why people are becoming susceptible to stroke:
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Obesity
• Lack of exercise
• Excessive drinking
• Drug abuse
• Genetic conditions of blood clotting or vascular disorders
Causes of Prevalence of Stroke in Women
According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), stroke is the third leading cause of death among women. While the NSA categorizes stroke as the fifth leading cause of death among men. Each year 55,000 women are affected by a stroke as compared to men. Women are more susceptible to stroke because of the following reasons:
• Using contraceptive medication with additional risk factors of age, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Changes in body physiology during pregnancy can also make women more susceptible to stroke.
• Migraine headaches in women also increase their chances of stroke.
• Menopause and using hormone replacement therapy to overcome menopausal symptoms.
Warning Signs of a Stroke:
A stroke has life-threatening consequences but luckily our bodies warn us so we can prevent the problem before it reaches a life-threatening stage. It is important that we learn and spread awareness about these warning signs to prevent the problem.
Following are some warning signs of a stroke:
1. A sudden feeling of numbness in the face, arms, and legs of one side of the body:
The effects of a stroke are usually felt on one side of the body as it affects one hemisphere of the brain. Thus, experiencing numbness in the arms and legs of one side of the body and an uneven smile on the face is a warning sign.
2. Feelings of Dizziness and fainting:
Sudden feelings of dizziness or loss of balance is a possible warning sign and you should consider consulting the doctor.
3. Vision Problems
Experiencing sudden vision problems is also a warning sign as a stroke affects areas of the brain that control vision.
4. Experiencing sudden headaches
Getting an intense headache out of nowhere can also be a warning sign so it is a good idea to keep track of these headaches if the headaches are occurring for some reason (such as being tired or stressed out by work) or not.
5. Unexpected difficulty in speaking and understanding
If you experience unexpected confusion while trying to understand something that was not a problem before or if you are having difficulty speaking you should quickly consult with your doctor and make sure if it is a warning sign of a stroke.
Our damaging lifestyles are making us all susceptible to a number of health-related problems, but our bodies are constantly warning us about these problems so it is important to acknowledge these warnings instead of ignoring them.
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