Recognizing the signs

Signs of stroke help to identify the disease in the acute phase. If the typical symptoms occur, an emergency doctor should be called as soon as possible to achieve the best possible prognosis. A stroke can typically be recognized by sudden and unilateral paralysis of the arms or legs and a “drooping half of the face”.

Vision and speech disorders are also typical signs by which a stroke can be recognized. To identify these symptoms as such, there is a simple principle: smile, speak, arms up! Not all symptoms have to be present in all cases, which is why the occurrence of individual characteristic symptoms can also be indicative of a stroke.

If the above-mentioned symptoms occur, an emergency doctor should be called immediately, as quick action is required. If there are typical symptoms of a stroke, it is important to confirm or exclude this suspicion as soon as possible.

Smile: When the person is asked to smile, it is important to make sure that one half of the face is not “smiling”, i.e. hanging down, and that the smile looks crooked.
If this is the case, it is an expression of paralysis and can therefore be a sign of a stroke.
Arms up! The same applies to the request “Raise your arms! “The affected person should raise both arms and keep them in the air. If one arm sinks involuntarily and cannot be held, this is also a possible sign of a stroke.
Speaking: Speech disorders can be detected by asking the person concerned to repeat a simple sentence (e.g. “The dog chased the cat”). If he is unable to do this, this indicates a speech disorder and is a possible stroke sign.

What causes these signs?

The signs of a stroke are directly related to a lack of oxygen in the brain. This is caused either by a blocked blood vessel or a bleeding in the brain. Depending on which region of the brain is no longer getting enough oxygen, immediate symptoms may occur.

Bleeding is often caused by high blood pressure (hypertension). Aneurysms can also burst and cause heavy bleeding in the brain. A common cause of a blocked vessel in the brain is cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. Calcification of the vessels (arteriosclerosis) can also be responsible for a blocked vessel and thus for the lack of oxygen in the brain.