How do I know if I've had a stroke?

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
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How do you know if you've had a silent stroke?

Silent Stroke Symptoms
  1. Sudden lack of balance.
  2. Temporary loss of basic muscle movement (bladder included)
  3. Slight memory loss.
  4. Sudden changes in mood or personality.
  5. Issues with cognitive skills and ability.
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Can you have a mild stroke and not know it?

Some people have strokes without realizing it. They're called silent strokes, and they either have no easy-to-recognize symptoms, or you don't remember them. But they do cause permanent damage in your brain. If you've had more than one silent stroke, you may have thinking and memory problems.
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What does the first stroke feel like?

Signs and symptoms of a stroke in both men and women include: Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your face or in one arm or leg. Loss of vision, strength, coordination, sensation, or speech, or trouble understanding speech. These symptoms may get worse over time.
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How do they check if you've had a stroke?

Strokes are usually diagnosed by doing physical tests and studying images of the brain produced during a scan.
  1. A blood test to find out your cholesterol and blood sugar level.
  2. checking your pulse for an irregular heartbeat.
  3. taking a blood pressure measurement.
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Stroke Signs



How do you test for a mini stroke?

A carotid ultrasound scan can show if there is narrowing or any blockages in the neck arteries leading to your brain. A small probe (transducer) sends high-frequency sound waves into your body. When these sound waves bounce back, they can be used to create an image of the inside of your body.
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Can you recover from a mild stroke?

Because mild strokes do not typically cause major impairments, recovery is usually fast. Sometimes recovery from a mild stroke can occur within 3-6 months. Other times it can take longer. There are many variables that affect the time it takes to recover.
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What are the 5 warning signs of a mini stroke?

Warning Signs of Stroke
  • Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body.
  • Trouble speaking or understanding.
  • Problems with vision, such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
  • Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination.
  • Problems with movement or walking.
  • Fainting or seizure.
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What are the 4 silent signs of a stroke?

A sudden headache, difficulty speaking, balance or vision problems, and numbness on one side of the body—these are the signs of a stroke many of us are familiar with.
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What does a mini stroke look like?

The signs and symptoms of a TIA resemble those found early in a stroke and may include sudden onset of: Weakness, numbness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg, typically on one side of the body. Slurred or garbled speech or difficulty understanding others. Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision.
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What happens if a mini stroke goes untreated?

Even if a major stroke is avoided, repeated mini strokes can have a cumulative negative effect on one's brain health and cognitive function. In severe cases, vascular dementia may result from untreated cerebrovascular events.
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Can doctors tell if you've had a mini stroke?

The only way to tell the difference between a ministroke and a stroke is by having a doctor look at an image of your brain with either a CT scan or an MRI scan. If you've had an ischemic stroke, it's likely that it won't show up on a CT scan of your brain for 24 to 48 hours.
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What happens if a stroke goes untreated?

A stroke is often described as a “brain attack.” Part of the brain is robbed of the oxygen and blood supply it needs to function, because a blood vessel to part of the brain either has a clot or blockage, or bursts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the more brain cells die.
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What happens in the first 3 days after a stroke?

The first days in hospital. During the first few days after your stroke, you might be very tired and need to recover from the initial event. Meanwhile, your team will identify the type of stroke, where it occurred, the type and amount of damage, and the effects. They may perform more tests and blood work.
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What do you do after a mini stroke?

Seek treatment immediately. The main takeaway is that a mini stroke, no matter how quickly it seems to resolve, is a medical emergency. If you have experienced mini stroke symptoms, your brain was starved of oxygen for a period of time and was not functioning properly when that happened.
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What is a mild stroke?

Mild strokes are often an early warning sign of a regular stroke. Mild strokes are usually quick, occurring when there is a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain. Mild stroke symptoms are similar to those of a regular stroke but last for only a few minutes up to 24 hours.
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What happens right before a stroke?

Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Loss of vision or changes to your vision in one or both eyes, which usually happens suddenly. Feeling confused or having trouble understanding things that are usually easy for you. Numbness or weakness on one side of the body (or in one arm or leg)
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What foods can trigger a stroke?

Foods That Can Trigger A Stroke
  • Processed Foods That Contain Trans Fat. Processed foods or junk foods, such as crackers, chips, store-bought goods and fried foods, typically contain a lot of trans fat, a very dangerous type of fat because it increases inflammation in the body. ...
  • Smoked And Processed Meats. ...
  • Table Salt.
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Can drinking water help prevent a stroke?

Drinking enough water regularly prevents dehydration. This may play a role in keeping the blood less viscous, which in turn prevents a stroke.
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How you feel after a stroke?

Common physical conditions after a stroke include: Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination. Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations. Fatigue, which may continue after you return home.
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How long do mini strokes last?

This can cause sudden symptoms similar to a stroke, such as speech and visual disturbance, and numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs. But a TIA does not last as long as a stroke. The effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours.
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Is having a mini stroke serious?

You might be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), commonly referred to as a “mini stroke.” Don't let the word “mini” fool you: transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are a serious condition warning you that a larger stroke may be coming- and soon.
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What does a TIA feel like in your head?

However, it does involve many of the same signs and symptoms as a stroke. A person experiencing a TIA might feel sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, have slurred speech, have trouble seeing or talking, and feel confused. The person may experience a combination of these symptoms at the same time.
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What causes stroke like symptoms but is not a stroke?

“Under the age of 50, most stroke mimics are migraines, epilepsy, seizures, multiple sclerosis or high blood pressure that causes swelling in the brain,” he said. “Over the age of 50, most patients experiencing a stroke mimic are the result of epilepsy, metabolic derangement or a mass lesion in the brain.”
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What are the 3 types of strokes?

What are the types of stroke?
  • Ischemic stroke. Most strokes are ischemic strokes. ...
  • Hemorrhagic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). ...
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA or “mini-stroke”) ...
  • CDC. ...
  • Million Hearts® and CDC Foundation. ...
  • Other organizations.
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