A brain stroke occurs when the blood and oxygen supply gets reduced or disturbed from going to the brain. This leads to the degeneration or dying of brain cells. A stroke is a medical emergency and it is important to take the patient in a hospital as soon as possible. However, for this purpose, one should also understand the exact symptoms of a stroke. If a stroke can be identified on time, then it will be possible to take the patient to a hospital in the golden hour. Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke to Dr. Gaurav Goel, Director and Head - Neuro Interventional Surgery, Medanta Hospital about the signs of stroke.
Stroke symptoms
The acronym FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) is a test that can help in identifying the common signs of a stroke. The indications of a brain stroke are recognisable and noticeable. According to Dr. Gaurav Goel, the major symptoms of a stroke are, if you see somebody who is:
- Not able to speak or understand properly
- Their face is getting tilted or starts dropping on one side
- Saliva coming out from one side
- Not being able to lift the arm
- One side of the body not moving
- Severe headache
- Difficulty in maintaining balance
These symptoms should not be ignored and the patient should be rushed to the hospital immediately. These signs will not go away on their own and require proper medical treatment. One should also know about the future risk factors of a stroke. The sooner you reach the emergency room, better the chances are. Therefore, do not take these signs of brain stroke lightly and take care of yourself. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits might also contribute in recovering from a stroke.
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