According to the American Heart Association’s article “Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics: 2010 Update at a Glance,” stroke is the third leading cause of death and is the number one cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, approximately 795,000 people experience a stroke while about 137,000 people die from a stroke, also called a “brain attack.”
A serious medical emergency affecting blood flow to the brain, anyone who is experiencing stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate emergency care in order to rule out a stroke or “brain attack.” Other conditions may have similar symptoms, and not everyone who is having a stroke has all of the symptoms listed below. Symptoms tend to vary depending on the part of the brain involved.
Symptoms of a Stroke
According to the National Stroke Association, an easy way to remember a quick and simple test to help someone determine if a person is having stroke like symptoms is to “Act F.A.S.T.”:
- Face – Ask the person to smile and look for facial droop on one side.
- Arms – Ask the person to raise his or her arms and look to see if one arm is lower or begins to sink down.
- Speech – Ask the person to say something simple and listen for slurred speech or the inability to say the words correctly.
- Time – Delays in seeking emergency medical care can result in lost brain cells. If the person is having the above symptoms, it is important to call 911 or the equivalent in areas without 911 immediately, noting the time the symptoms began. People who seek care earlier may have more options for treatment than someone who waits to seek care.
Stroke symptoms always appear suddenly, are often accompanied by hypertension (high blood pressure), particularly of the diastolic or bottom number, and may include any or all of the following per the above National Stroke Association article:
- weakness on one side of the body, which might include the face, arm, and/or leg
- confusion
- difficulty speaking, including understanding speech, making statements that are inappropriate, or the inability to properly say words – the speech patterns vary from the person’s normal speech patterns
- changes in sight in one or both eyes
- problems walking, maintaining balance, or a loss of coordination
- severe headache without an obvious cause
According to the National Stroke Association article “Women and Stroke: Unique Symptoms in Women,” adult women who are experiencing a stroke may have sudden symptoms that might be unusual or not typical, such as:
- hiccups
- nausea
- weakness
- pain in the chest
- problems breathing
- palpitations
Conditions That Can Mimic a Stroke
According to The Internet Stroke Center: Stroke Education for Clients and Students article entitled “Emergency Stroke Evaluation & Diagnosis,” approximately 81% of people who present to the Emergency Department with stroke-like symptoms are experiencing a stroke. However, a healthcare provider may look for other conditions that can also cause some of the same or similar symptoms.
A few examples of health conditions that can cause some symptoms similar to a stroke include, but are not limited to:
- TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack or Mini Stroke) – stroke symptoms resolve on their own without any intervention
- certain infections, particularly in seniors
- tumors
- migraine headache
- Bell’s palsy
- metabolic disturbances
- seizure
- low blood sugar, including hypoglycemia due to diabetes
- delirium or dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
- heart attack, particularly if someone is experiencing atypical symptoms of a stroke
Stroke Symptoms Require Immediate Medical Evaluation
Seeking immediate emergency care can give a person who is having stroke-like symptoms the best chance for survival and may increase the likelihood of effective rehabilitation and lessen the severity of stroke symptoms. Even if the symptoms resolve on their own, it is important to be evaluated by a healthcare professional because a TIA is a major risk factor for stroke. Some health conditions may mimic symptoms of a stroke, and a healthcare profession can help determine if symptoms are due to a stroke or some other condition. People interested in teaching kids about stroke with links to some great, free videos on stroke might wish to read Teach Kids About Stroke and Stroke Like Symptoms.
Information in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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