By Alejandro I. Lopez
Strokes are the second cause of death around the world. In medical terms, they are called CVA (cerebro-vascular accidents), and they vary both in intensity and duration. The WHO classifies them as Major CVAs and Minor CVAs, but the signals that someone might be having from one are essentially the same.
The WHO defines a CVA as “a clinical syndrome consisting of rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global in case of coma) disturbance of cerebral function lasting more than 24 hours or leading to death with no apparent cause other than a vascular origin.” According to MedlinePlus, “symptoms may occur on and off for the first day or two. Symptoms are usually most severe when the stroke first happens, but they may slowly get worse,” and this is why it is so important that the victim of a stroke gets immediate attention. Read on to find out what are the most common symptoms of a stroke:
Sudden numbness of the face
One of the most common symptoms of a CVA is sudden numbness in the face muscles, especially if it happens only on one side of the face. If it was a minor CVA, this will probably be the only symptom, but you should get immediate medical attention anyway.
Weakness on one side of the body
Just like with the muscles of the face, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body only is a symptom you should get checked immediately. The inability to tense your leg or arm muscles might be the first sign that something is not quite right, and you should get it checked out immediately.
Mental fogginess or difficulty speaking
If someone has shown one of the aforementioned symptoms, ask that person to try and repeat a simple sentence. If they are unable to, seem disoriented, are unable to understand you, or if their speech is slurred, as though they were drunk, you need to get help immediately. The ability to speak and understand speech is one of the first abilities that are impaired in case of a CVA, and it might help get a quick diagnosis.
Sudden vision issues
If you have sudden difficulties to see with one eye, or both, or start seeing double, or go suddenly blind, it might be a sign of the onset of a CVA, especially if this happens at the same time as the other symptoms. Partial blindness, accompanied by walking difficulties or the inability to keep our balance might be indicative of a Major CVA.
Intense headache
An intense headache caused by a CVA is produced by bleeding inside the brain and it is possible to tell them apart if the pain’s onset is sudden and it’s very intense, or if it’s worse when changing your position, especially if the person is lying on their back. The pain usually starts in the nape, where the cerebellum is located, and it intensifies with movement or by bending over.
If you experience any of these symptoms, the recommendation is to seek immediate medical assistance. Be aware that this information is in no way medical advice and is no substitute for a doctor’s opinion. This is a purely informative article and is based on information collected from public health organizations that have made this information available online, which can be checked in the references mentioned.
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