Health and Me

Riya Baibhawi

These 3 Warning Signs May Predict a Stroke Days in Advance—Don't Ignore Them!

<span>Stroke</span>, commonly known as brain haemorrhage, occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked or there is sudden bleeding in the brain. It is categorized into two types—a stroke that occurs because blood flow to the brain is blocked is called an ischemic stroke. In this case, the brain cannot get oxygen and nutrients from the blood, which leads to the brain cells dying within minutes. The second type of stroke occurs because of sudden bleeding in the brain is called a hemorrhagic stroke. The leaked blood results in pressure on brain cells, damaging them.

According to statistics, someone in the UK has a stroke in every five minutes. Moreover, the UK Stroke Association reported that the UK is home to 1.3 million stroke survivors. Globally, around 15 million people suffer from stroke every year, as per <span>World Health Organization</span> (WHO). 

Stroke is a life-threatening condition and can cause immediate death. Even for survivors, it can cause irreversible changes in their everyday functioining. If you are having a stroke or about to suffer from one, there are several symptoms that you will experience. 

Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?

Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred

Time to call 999: If you see any one of these signs

Besides, these are the symptoms to identify a stroke: 

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet.

Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.

Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.

Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall.

Besides these, there are certain symptoms that indicate the risk of an upcoming stroke even days before. They are: 

A mini-stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), is the same as a stroke but with symptoms that last for just a short amount of time and less than 24 hours. People can mistake this up for a "funny turn" as it passes quickly or think it is a result of being tired or having a migraine. A stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to part of the brain - with a TIA, this is just temporary. But it must be taken seriously, says the Stroke Association.

The charity warns: "More than one in 12 people will have a stroke within a week of having a mini-stroke, and the greatest risk is within the first few days. If you have a mini-stroke, you must get it treated urgently. Around 46,000 people in the UK have their first mini-stroke every year. Most people don't realise it is a medical emergency, and so they don't take the right action. The symptoms of a mini-stroke may only be temporary, but they almost certainly indicate an underlying problem that needs to be assessed and treated. Around 10,000 strokes could be prevented every year if they were urgently investigated and treated appropriately.

<h2>Unusual Headache</h2>Sometimes a certain kind of headache can be an early warning of a pending stroke. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that out of 550 adults 81 - or 14.7%-had a headache in the seven days before they had a stroke, known as a sentinel headache. Researchers say these were described as a sudden, intense, persistent headache, with features different from any usual previous headache. It happens days or even weeks before the stroke and affects 15% to 60% of patients.

Of those who had a headache, 46 had a tension-like headache, 33 a migraine and two a thunderclap headache. The headaches often lasted until <span>stroke symptoms</span> happened, but some disappeared within a few hours. Researchers said that these headaches represent sentinel headaches. Sudden onset of such headaches should be cause for alarm about a stroke.

<h2>'Thumping heart'</h2>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and increases your risk of a serious stroke. The Stroke Association says, "Normally, blood flows into the heart and gets fully pumped out every time the heart beats. But in AF, blood can pool inside the heart. A clot can form in the blood and then travel to the brain, causing a stroke.

"AF can make you five times more likely to have a stroke. Strokes due to AF tend to be more serious, with more damage to the brain and worse long-term effects."

The charity advises that AF often has no symptoms which means you might only find out you have AF during a routine medical check-up or after a stroke. However, is adds possible symptoms include palpitations where you feel as if "your heart is fluttering, thumping or skipping a beat". Other AF symptoms include tiredness, feeling breathless or faint, or chest pain.

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Stroke

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Stroke, commonly known as brain haemorrhage, occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked or there is sudden bleeding in the brain. It is categorized into two types—a stroke that occurs because blood flow to the brain is blocked is called an ischemic stroke. In this case, the brain cannot get oxygen and nutrients from the blood, which leads to the brain cells dying within minutes. The second type of stroke occurs because of sudden bleeding in the brain is called a hemorrhagic stroke. The leaked blood results in pressure on brain cells, damaging them.How Common Is Stroke?According to statistics, someone in the UK has a stroke in every five minutes. Moreover, the UK Stroke Association reported that the UK is home to 1.3 million stroke survivors. Globally, around 15 million people suffer from stroke every year, as per World Health Organization (WHO). How To Identify Stroke?Stroke is a life-threatening condition and can cause immediate death. Even for survivors, it can cause irreversible changes in their everyday functioining. If you are having a stroke or about to suffer from one, there are several symptoms that you will experience. Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurredTime to call 999: If you see any one of these signsBesides, these are the symptoms to identify a stroke: Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including legs, hands or feet.Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.Sudden memory loss or confusion.Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall.A sudden, severe headache.Besides these, there are certain symptoms that indicate the risk of an upcoming stroke even days before. They are: 'Funny Turn'A mini-stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), is the same as a stroke but with symptoms that last for just a short amount of time and less than 24 hours. People can mistake this up for a "funny turn" as it passes quickly or think it is a result of being tired or having a migraine. A stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to part of the brain - with a TIA, this is just temporary. But it must be taken seriously, says the Stroke Association.The charity warns: "More than one in 12 people will have a stroke within a week of having a mini-stroke, and the greatest risk is within the first few days. If you have a mini-stroke, you must get it treated urgently. Around 46,000 people in the UK have their first mini-stroke every year. Most people don't realise it is a medical emergency, and so they don't take the right action. The symptoms of a mini-stroke may only be temporary, but they almost certainly indicate an underlying problem that needs to be assessed and treated. Around 10,000 strokes could be prevented every year if they were urgently investigated and treated appropriately.Unusual HeadacheSometimes a certain kind of headache can be an early warning of a pending stroke. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that out of 550 adults 81 - or 14.7%-had a headache in the seven days before they had a stroke, known as a sentinel headache. Researchers say these were described as a sudden, intense, persistent headache, with features different from any usual previous headache. It happens days or even weeks before the stroke and affects 15% to 60% of patients.Of those who had a headache, 46 had a tension-like headache, 33 a migraine and two a thunderclap headache. The headaches often lasted until stroke symptoms happened, but some disappeared within a few hours. Researchers said that these headaches represent sentinel headaches. Sudden onset of such headaches should be cause for alarm about a stroke.'Thumping heart'Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat and increases your risk of a serious stroke. The Stroke Association says, "Normally, blood flows into the heart and gets fully pumped out every time the heart beats. But in AF, blood can pool inside the heart. A clot can form in the blood and then travel to the brain, causing a stroke."AF can make you five times more likely to have a stroke. Strokes due to AF tend to be more serious, with more damage to the brain and worse long-term effects."The charity advises that AF often has no symptoms which means you might only find out you have AF during a routine medical check-up or after a stroke. However, is adds possible symptoms include palpitations where you feel as if "your heart is fluttering, thumping or skipping a beat". Other AF symptoms include tiredness, feeling breathless or faint, or chest pain.