How can I tell if I'm having a stroke?
What Causes a Stroke?
Although a stroke can be the result of either a blot clot or bleeding, many strokes occur without the cause being identified.[1][2] When blood carrying oxygen and nutrients required for brain cell survival is denied access to the brain or suddenly bursts and spills around the brain, a stroke can occur.[1][2][3][4] Risk of a stroke is increased when an individual experiences a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, called arteriosclerosis, a condition that can be aggravated by high blood pressure or diabetes.[1]
What are the two types of stroke?
There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic.[2][3][4] An ischemic stroke, which stems from a blood clot, occurs when the blood flow to the brain is cut off or interrupted.[1][3] A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood spills into or pools around the brain as a result of a blood vessel bursting.[2][3][4]
What is TIA or mini-stroke?
There is also a third type of condition, a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which may have similar symptoms as a stroke, but is not actually a stroke since it does not result in any lasting damage. A TIA is considered a mini-stroke or warning stroke and lasts less than 24 hours.[5][6][7] In general, TIAs do not cause permanent brain damage, but are a warning sign of something more severe potentially occurring down the road.[5][6][7]
What do stroke symptoms feel like?
A stroke caused by a blood clot or bleeding will produce symptoms within seconds.[2] Below are common symptoms associated with the onset of a stroke:
- One side of the face droops or sags
- Weakness, numbness, and or sudden paralysis particularly on one side of the body or in one part of the body, such as an arm, leg or face
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes to include double vision, blurring and dimness
- Slurred speech or sudden difficulty getting words out
- Confusion or difficulty understanding others
- Sudden and severe headache
- Difficulty or inability to swallow
- Sudden disorientation
- Difficulty walking, loss of balance, and dizziness[1][2][3][5][6][8]
How can you test for a stroke?
The National Stroke Association suggests remembering the acronym FAST to quickly identify the signs of a stroke:[8]
FACE – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence (e.g. "It's sunny today."). Are the words slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?
TIME – If the person shows any symptoms, time is important. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
You can also test for signs of stroke using the "Give Me 5!" keywords from The Stroke Collaborative:[9]
WALK - Is their balance off? Are they dragging or having problems with one side of the body?
TALK - Is speech slurred? Are they having problems talking? Does one side of the mouth droop?
SEE - Are they seeing double? Is their vision blurry?
REACH - Is one side of the body weak or numb? Can they raise both arms over their head?
FEEL - Do they have a severe headache? Is it different from usual headaches?
What should you do if someone is experiencing symptoms of a stroke?
Timing is very important when symptoms of a stroke are apparent. You should immediately call 911 or emergency medical services in order to get an ambulance to the victim as quickly as possible and note the time.[5][6]
How are strokes treated?
Marking the time stroke symptoms occur is vital. A drug called Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA), which is the only FDA-approved medication for stroke treatment, is a clot-busting drug that must be taken within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms in order to be effective.[5][6]
A doctor will typically conduct one or a combination of the following types of tests:[4]
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan, which can identify whether or not bleeding has occurred through a series of X-rays
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which can determine the severity of brain damage, if any, and help predict recovery
- Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG), which can determine heart problems, such as arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation
- Various blood tests in order to measure blood sugar, blood count, electrolytes, and liver and kidney function
- Carotid Ultrasound/Doppler Scan to analyze and measure blood flow through the artery
- Echocardiogram or Holter Monitoring or Telemetry test to determine whether or not the stroke was caused by a heart condition
If you have reason to believe that you or a loved one may have symptoms of a stroke, call 911 or emergency medical services immediately.
For More Information
Please read Stroke: An Overview in our Elder Health Guides section.
Stroke References
1. Knoefel, Janice E. (n.d.) Stroke Awareness & Prevention. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.americangeriatrics.org/education/forum/stroke.shtml
2. WebMD. (March 6, 2007). Symptoms. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.webmd.com/stroke/guide/stroke-symptoms
3. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (May 26, 2009). NINDS Stroke Information Page. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm
4. WebMD. (March 6, 2007). Exams and Tests. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.webmd.com/stroke/guide/stroke-exams-and-tests
5. American Heart Association. (n.d.) Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053
6. American Stroke Association. (March 20, 2009). Learn to Recognize a Stroke. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020
7. National Stroke Association. (n.d.) What Is TIA? Retrieved June 21, 2009, from http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=TIA
8. National Stroke Association. (n.d). Stroke Symptoms. Retrieved June 20, 2009, from http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SYMP
9. The Stroke Collaborative (2008). Give Me 5: Stroke Symptoms Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.giveme5forstroke.org/patients/
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