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Spot a Stroke Fast: 3 Warning Signs It's a Stroke

Did you know that every year more than 795,000 people have a stroke? Are you worried you or your loved one might suffer from a stroke and not realize it? 

In this article, you'll learn how to spot a stroke fast. Read on to discover these life-saving warning signs to give you and your loved one peace of mind to get the care you need immediately. 

What Is a Stroke?

When you're wanting to learn to spot a stroke fast, it's important to understand what exactly a stroke is. A stroke affects your arteries that lead to and are within the brain. 

It happens when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot. When this occurs, your brain doesn't get enough blood and oxygen so the brain cells and the brain itself can die. 

There are 3 types of strokes: ischemic, transient ischemic, and a hemorrhagic stroke. When a blood flow ruptures and prevents blood flow to your brain that's called the hemorrhagic stroke. 

A temporary clot causes the transient ischemic attack, and a clot that obstructs blood flow to the brain is an ischemic stroke. 

Warning Signs

The warning signs of a stroke are:

  1. Have the person raise both arms and notice if one arm drops down.
  2. When you smile, check to see if either side of the smile drops.
  3. Check for any strange or slurred speech

If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately and make sure to jot down when you first noticed the symptoms. 

Other Symptoms

Along with these common symptoms, you can also experience a severe headache, trouble walking such as lack of coordination or dizziness, difficulty seeing, confusion, or numbness in your body.

If you experience numbness on one body especially, that could be a sign of a stroke. 

Prevention

While experiencing a stroke can be scary for all involved, there are certain prevention tips you can do for peace of mind. First, you'll want to maintain a healthy weight and make sure to exercise preferably at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. 

If you smoke, you'll want to quit and avoid second-hand smoke as well. There is a stroke charity out there too that you can help donate to and spread awareness of stroke prevention. 

You'll also want to limit how much alcohol you drink as well. If your blood pressure or cholesterol are high, speak to your doctor about different ways you can lower them to cut down your chances of having a stroke. 

Tips to Spot a Stroke Fast

While having to spot a stroke fast can seem overwhelming, it can be life-saving. Ensure you follow these warning signs and write them down as soon as you notice them. 

Would you like to learn more about living a healthy lifestyle? Check out other articles for healthy eating and lifestyle tips.