Knowing the difference between a stroke symptom and a normal dizzy spell could save your life!

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It is true. Understanding what a stroke symptom is can save your life. By reading through the stroke related information on our site, we hope to provide you with an easily understood report of how to prevent stroke, what the signs of stroke are, stroke symptoms and treatment and rehabilitation.

Over 50% of people aged 35+ are unaware that if your have had a heart attack, there is a greater risk of having a stroke and vice versa!

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States claiming around ¾ of a million victims. And stroke causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease. African Americans are more at risk than any other ethnic or racial group in the United States.

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What is a stroke?

Before looking at what a stroke actually is, it is useful to know that understanding stoke symptoms and making changes in your lifestyle can help prevent stroke. A stroke is serious news for anybody. Similar to a heart attack, which occurs when blood and oxygen cannot reach the heart because of blocked arteries or a clot. In fact, a stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack." Most often, stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops because it is blocked by a clot. The brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.

As we mentioned before, understanding what a stroke symptom is can greatly increase your possibility of avoiding the tragic consequences commonly associated with stroke.

Some of the most common stroke symptoms

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden severe headache with no known cause

We’ve seen what a stroke symptom is, but how can you prevent a stroke?

Similar to heart disease, the risk of stroke can be calculated by considering things called risk factors. A risk factor may be something you can put right, such as obesity, or something that you can do nothing about, like race, age or a family history of stroke. The more risk factors you have, the higher your overall risk of stroke or heart disease.
Let’s look at the risk factors that can be modified or controlled:

If you have high blood pressure, work with your doctor to get it under control. Many people do not realize they have high blood pressure, which usually produces no symptoms but is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Managing your high blood pressure is the most important thing you can do to avoid stroke.

If you smoke, quit. Don’t just cut down. Quit.

If you have diabetes, learn how to manage it. As with high blood pressure, diabetes usually causes no symptoms but it increases the chance of stroke.

If you are overweight, start maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

If you take the effort to look after your body, paying special attention to your diet and taking regular exercise, not only will you reduce the risk of stroke, but you will also be helping greatly your other risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure. In some cases this will mean less medication.

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