What are the symptoms of a stroke?
A stroke (apoplexy) causes various neurological disorders and deficits. The nature and severity of these depends primarily on which region of the brain is affected by the damage and whether it is a “silent” or “silent” stroke.
A “silent” stroke is a rather mild stroke that occurs at night, for example, and whose effects do not cause any severe or persistent symptoms. Those affected do not notice such a stroke immediately. However, if these silent attacks accumulate, the typical stroke symptoms will also occur.
The most important symptoms by which you can recognize a stroke are
Paralysis, numbness feeling
A common sign of a stroke is an acute feeling of weakness, paralysis or numbness on one side of the body. Typical symptoms include a drooping corner of the mouth, a paralyzed arm or a suddenly numb foot. If the left side of the body is affected, this indicates a stroke in the right side of the brain. If, on the other hand, the right side of the body shows stroke symptoms such as numbness or paralysis, this indicates a left-sided stroke.
Sometimes paralysis does not occur immediately, but is initially accompanied by a tingling sensation that spreads to the hands, for example. This indicates that the sensation and stimulus conduction via the nerves is disturbed.
Visual disturbances
Stroke symptoms often also affect the eyes: burst veins and bleeding in the eye, double vision, blurred vision and temporary loss of vision in one eye, flashes or flickering in the eye, for example, are signs of a stroke, especially if they occur very suddenly.
There is also often a sudden loss of half of the visual field. The visual field is the part of the environment that you can see without moving your eyes or head. If part of this visual field – for example the left side – is suddenly lost, this can easily lead to falls or accidents because the person affected cannot see a vehicle approaching from the left side, for example.
In addition to a stroke in the brain, there is also the possibility that only the eyes are affected – i.e. a stroke in the eye.
Speech and language comprehension disorders
Sudden speech disorders are another possible stroke symptom. They often vary in severity. A mild stroke, for example, causes symptoms such as halting, choppy speech. Some sufferers suddenly twist syllables, use the wrong letters or speak slurred or slurred. In severe cases, some stroke patients are no longer able to speak at all.
A sudden speech comprehension disorder is also an indication of a stroke. The person affected can still hear the words, but suddenly no longer understands what someone is saying to them.
Dizziness
Sudden dizziness with unsteadiness of gait is also one of the possible symptoms of a stroke. Some of those affected perceive it as spinning dizziness. This means that they feel as if they are riding a merry-go-round. Others, on the other hand, experience a swaying vertigo: for them, the ground seems to sway as if they were on a ship in rough seas. The feeling of hurtling rapidly downwards in an elevator is also a possible sign of a stroke.
Symptoms such as balance problems and loss of coordination often accompany the dizziness.
Very severe headaches
Mental disorders
In the case of a stroke, those affected are often also affected in their mental abilities, which means that they suffer from impaired consciousness or disorientation. For example, they do not properly perceive the space around them, time, other people, sounds or facts or have difficulty understanding relationships. Doctors refer to this as a neglect.
Sometimes stroke patients are more anxious than healthy people or appear very absent-minded (apathetic).
What are the signs of a stroke in women?
The typical stroke symptoms do not differ between men and women. However, women are more likely to exhibit atypical symptoms that do not indicate a stroke at first glance. For example, they show changes in consciousness, are confused, tired, lethargic and generally weakened. Incontinence, aching limbs, chest pain and nausea are also symptoms in women with a stroke. Older women often show increased frailty.
Two forms of stroke – same signs
A stroke usually occurs when there is suddenly too little blood flow to a region of the brain (ischemic stroke). The cause is usually a blood clot that blocks a vessel in the brain. In other cases, a cerebral hemorrhage causes an apoplexy (hemorrhagic stroke).
However, both forms trigger the same stroke symptoms (if the same region of the brain is affected). This means that it is not possible to tell which type of stroke it is just by looking at the signs of a stroke. In an emergency, however, this does not matter: if someone shows possible stroke symptoms, the emergency doctor must be called immediately!
You can find out how to test for a possible stroke in the article Stroke.
A stroke often announces itself
There are often signs of an impending stroke: In around one in three patients, a stroke is heralded by a so-called transient ischemic attack (TIA). By this, doctors mean a temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain, which occurs suddenly like a “real” stroke and does not build up gradually.
Compared to a “real” stroke, the effects of a TIA are less severe, which is why it is commonly referred to as a mild, minor or even mini stroke. However, a TIA is a clear warning sign and should therefore not be taken lightly.
You should definitely take any signs of an impending stroke such as a TIA seriously and have them checked out by a doctor immediately. The doctor will then immediately recommend suitable treatment measures, such as taking anticoagulant medication. This reduces the risk of a “real” stroke.
