subject: What Are The Warning Signs Of A Stroke? [print this page] The warning signs of a stroke can be varied and can be so subtle that people dismiss them. This is dangerous, because the quicker the signs of a stroke are dealt with, the more likely the stroke can be avoided.
One sign of a stroke that many people don"t think of is a condition called amaurosis fugax. This is blindness in one eye that manifests as a curtain that comes down over all or part of a person"s field of vision. Oakland Home Care clients" have stated that this symptom might last for a few minutes, or a few hours. People may think this is an eye problem, but it is actually a sign of a blockage in the carotid artery. There are two carotid arteries that supply blood to the eye and the brain. One serves the right side, the other the left side. When either of these arteries is blocked, the eye, as well as the brain, is deprived of blood. This symptom can lead to a stroke.
Other warning signs of a stroke have been compiled by Oakland Dementia Care in the list below:
" Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body. The numbness and weakness can be felt in the face, the arm or the leg.
" Loss of the ability to speak, or trouble talking or understanding what"s being said.
" An unexplained dizziness or sudden fall, especially if any of the above symptoms are also present.
Some strokes are preceded by transient ischemic attacks, or little strokes. Oakland Live in Home Care statistics have shown that of everyone who"s had a TIA, about 36 percent of these people will have full blown strokes. TIAs can happen days, weeks or even months before the person experiences a major stroke. They"re the result of a blood clot temporally blocking an artery and so starving the brain of oxygen. TIAs tend to be very brief. Most last five minutes or less, though some can last for hours. The symptoms are similar to a stroke, with weakness on the side, dizziness and difficulty in speaking. However, when a TIA is over the person returns to normal and so is tempted to discount it. But TIAs shouldn"t be ignored!
