Symptoms & Risks
Many people think a stroke only affects the elderly, a common misconception. It can happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of age, gender, or race. However, up to 80% of strokes are preventable. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle plays a big role in stroke prevention, as common risk factors for stroke include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Inactive lifestyle
- Smoking
Symptoms of Stroke
When stroke occurs, an individual may experience sudden difficulties with common functions. The most common symptoms of stroke include:
- Confusion or difficulty understanding
- Difficulty speaking
- Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Problems with movement or walking
- Seizure
- Severe headaches with no other known cause
- Vision problems, such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Less common signs of stroke include sudden nausea, vomiting, or fever not caused by a viral illness, and brief loss or change of consciousness, such as fainting, confusion, seizures, or coma.
With Stroke, Time is Brain — Act F.A.S.T.
If you develop or see someone developing symptoms suggestive of a stroke — even if there is no pain — you have to think F.A.S.T.
- Face — Uneven smile
- Arm — Arm weakness or numbness
- Speech — Slurred speech or difficulty talking
- Time — You have to act quickly. Call 911 immediately
