Making your bed, cleaning off your desk, watering your plants, opening your mail, pouring yourself a cup of coffee, these are all things you probably don’t give a second thought to. Throughout the day we do thousands of little things like this that take a minute or less.

Now I want you to imagine when time is of the essence and you are running against the clock for your life. When it comes to a stroke, minutes, even seconds matter. In fact, for every minute a stroke is left untreated, up to 2-million brain cells die.

Signs of a Stroke

May is National Stroke Awareness Month and knowing the risks, signs and what actions to take if you suspect a stroke can save your life. Stroke is the third leading cause of death for women and the fifth leading cause of death for men, but in general stroke systems for men and women are typically the same.

Here are just a few of the signs to watch for:

• Trouble seeing or vision changes including blurred vision, rapid eye movement
• Trouble balancing or walking
• Drooping on one side of your face
• Slurred speech or difficulty finding words (expressive aphasia)
• Arm weakness
• Headache *severe and unlike headaches in the past
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pins and needles sensation
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion

In short, these are the hallmark signs of stoke, the symptoms typically come on suddenly and occur on one side of the body.

Causes of a Stroke

The causes can either be from a clot obstructing the flow of blood to your brain or a burst blood vessel or hemorrhage. A ‘mini stroke’ is caused by a temporary clot. Typically thought of as an older adult disease, strokes can actually occur within any age bracket so awareness and prevention are key. Here are just a few ways to prevent a stroke.

• Lower blood pressure
• Lower your cholesterol levels
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Exercise at least 3-5 times a week
• Drink in moderation
• Stop smoking
• Maintain underlying conditions
• Be aware of the warning signs

Contact Peoria OBGYN

Err on the side of caution and call 911 immediately if you suspect you are having a stroke. The faster you seek medical attention, the better chance you have of survival. Peoria OBGYN is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of a woman at every stage of her life. Visit us online today or call 309-683-0200 to schedule an appointment.

Sources:
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Signs-Stroke-Women-46111863
https://www.strokeassociation.org/en/about-stroke
https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke