Stroke – Symptoms, Causes & Best Treatment
A brain stroke is a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Common stroke symptoms include face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, vision problems, dizziness, and sudden headache. The major stroke causes are high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, smoking, stress, and obesity. A mini stroke is a temporary warning sign and should never be ignored.
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke (caused by a blood clot) and hemorrhagic stroke (caused by brain bleeding). Immediate stroke treatment from a neurologist for stroke can save life and reduce permanent brain damage. Regular health checkups, healthy diet, exercise, BP control, and stress management are the best methods for stroke prevention.
Common Stroke Symptoms
The most common stroke symptoms include face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, sudden dizziness, blurred vision, and severe headache. Use the FAST rule – Face, Arm, Speech, Time.
Main Stroke Causes
High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, smoking, stress, and obesity are the leading stroke causes.
Stroke Treatment
Immediate hospital care is the best stroke treatment. For ischemic stroke, clot-removal medicines are given. For hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding is controlled with medicines or surgery. Early treatment gives the best recovery.
Stroke Prevention
Control BP and sugar, exercise daily, eat healthy food, quit smoking, reduce alcohol, manage stress, and get regular health checkups for stroke prevention.
When to See a Neurologist
If you notice sudden weakness, speech difficulty, or vision problems, consult a stroke specialist / neurologist immediately.