Surprise is a stroke's most powerful weapon.
Almost nobody believes it could happen to them. "I feel OK." "I'm only 42; that's too young for a stroke." "I'm just tired. I'll take it easy for a while."
Even doctors are often surprised when stroke strikes someone so young, so active or so healthy. Yet stroke is the leading cause of disability in America today. More than 730,000 Americans are crippled every year by stroke. And this cruel crippler is also the third leading cause of death.
 Few people know the warning signs.
With such a bad reputation, stroke isn't all that well known. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that as many as 43% of Americans can't even name one warning sign of the onset of a stroke.
Even more incredible is the fact that a survey conducted by the University of Cincinnati stroke team found that nearly 40% of those who have already suffered a stroke can't identify a single warning sign. Meanwhile, stroke continues to ravage our population. |
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STROKE: It's a
"brain attack" |
A stroke can leave your brain damaged or disabled. It can paralyze your body. You may not be able to speak—or at least speak clearly. For the less fortunate, it can be a death sentence.
Most strokes strike when a blood vessel leading to the brain becomes blocked. Typically this vessel has already been narrowed by plaque (fatty deposits). Less common, but just as devastating, is a hemorrhagic stroke in which a weakened blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Both are catastrophic events that you should do everything possible to avoid. |
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| 1. |
Sudden, unexplained weakness or numbness.
This usually happens on one side of the body. Sometimes, however, it can be confined to one limb or one side of the face. But if it happens to you, don't ignore it. Get to a hospital emergency room IMMEDIATELY! |
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| 2. |
Sudden loss of vision.
This can include a dimness in vision, particularly in just one eye. But if it's a sensation you've never experienced before, better be safe than sorry. Get it checked out right away. |
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| 3. |
Trouble speaking.
This may be almost imperceptible by you or others. Yet that slight slurring of speech may be an indicator that you are experiencing a stroke. Don't be embarrassed. Ask those around you if your speech seems slurred. They may be too polite to mention it until you bring it up. |
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| 4. |
Sudden, severe headaches.
If your head is throbbing and there is no apparant cause, it may be a sign of stroke. Tragically, most stroke victims could have fully recovered if, instead of searching the medicine cabinet for a painkiller, they were rushed to the emergency room. By the time they realize what's happening—it's too late. The damage has been done. |
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| 5. |
Dizziness and sudden falls.
It's easy to attribute these symptoms to age, lack of sleep or uneven ground. But be alert. If you feel dizzy or notice yourself more unsteady and tending to fall more often, get it checked out. These symptoms are especially important to note when they occur with any of the other symptoms of stroke. |
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