The common warning signs of a stroke and what to look out for

Would you know the warning signs if you were having a stroke?

According to a video uploaded to YouTube by the Stroke Foundation, one in six people will suffer a stroke at one point in their lifetime. It can catch many people off guard and it’s not always clear that you or someone is having a stroke.

The Stroke Foundation recommends that all people familiarise themselves with a F.A.S.T test as a quick and easy way of identifying the most common warning signs.

The first step is to check the face. If it doesn’t look quite right or is drooping, it could be a sign that the person has had, or is having, a stroke.

Step two is to assess the person’s arm. Most people who experience a stroke have major difficulty lifting one or both of their arms. Test this out with the person where possible.

The next step takes a look at the person’s speech. Strokes tend to make it difficult for people to communicate and many people experience slurred speech. They may also have trouble understanding you.

The final step is acting quickly. If you notice one or more of the above steps, it’s vital to call for medical help immediately or visit a doctor or ambulance. Because strokes can cause major health problems, it’s also vital that you act as quickly as possible.

Like many major health problems, if a stroke is left untreated for long periods of time, it can cause irreversible damage to the brain. While weakness in the arms, face and slurred speech are the most common signs associated with a stroke, there are other things to look out for. Over time, people may notice weakness in the arms and face. In some cases, the weakness will impact just one side of the body, while in others, it can affect the whole body.

When it comes to speech, people may also find it more difficult to get their words out and have greater difficulty understanding people. They may also find it harder to swallow.

Others can experience often severe headaches. They can often come on unexpectedly and can increase over time, while dizziness is also a common side effect of a stroke. In extreme cases, this can cause the person to fall over or feel unbalanced.

Finally, some say they experience blindness or a loss of vision in one or both of their eyes. In some scenarios, vision suddenly becomes blurred, while others experience darkness and decreased vision.

The scary thing about a stroke is a person can experience one or a combination of symptoms. They can last for a matter of seconds or exceed a whole day in other cases. The Stroke Foundation has a free online test to assess the risk.

The questionnaire asks a variety of things including age, gender and a number of lifestyle choices. Generally, the more risk factors you have, the more at risk you are of experiencing a stroke.

Strokes that are the result of a blood clot are known as ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes occur when there is a bleed on the brain, while a transient ischaemic attack is also known as a mini stroke, with symptoms typically disappearing after a few hours. If in doubt, it’s always best to seek medical help.

What do you think? Would you know what to look out for if you or someone you knew was having a stroke?