Only 15 years ago, stroke was the third leading cause of death in the United States. However, rapid advancements in neuroimaging technologies and pharmaceuticals have significantly decreased the mortality rate from cerebrovascular causes.
Today, individuals are 4.5 times more likely to die from heart disease than from a stroke, marking one of the largest disparities between the two conditions in history.
Time is critical. With each passing minute of an untreated stroke, approximately two million brain cells are lost. In just one hour, the affected person's brain can age nearly four years.
The rapid worsening of stroke conditions is indeed alarming.
Is it denial or ignorance?
The excellent news is that strokes are both preventable and treatable.
Yet, many people still delay seeking treatment, as noted by Carolyn Brockington, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Stroke Center in New York City.
"Strokes are frightening, and denial is a major reason for delayed treatment. When I question stroke patients in the ER about their delay in calling 911, the most frequent answer is that they hoped the symptoms would dissipate," she explains.
However, most people are neither foolish nor insane. So, what leads someone to wait and see if a stroke will pass?
The most likely explanation is that they attributed their symptoms to a different cause.
Symptoms often masquerade as other ailments.
Silent strokes are indeed a reality. They occur when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted, yet they might not produce noticeable symptoms. Often, they are only detected when a brain scan for another issue reveals permanent damage.
Let's examine five stroke symptoms that are frequently mistaken for other conditions:
COMMONLY OVERLOOKED SIGNS OF STROKE
1. SEVERE HEADACHE (OFTEN CONFUSED WITH MIGRAINES)
For individuals who suffer from migraines, attributing a severe headache to this condition is understandable. However, if severe headaches are not common for you, it could indicate a different health issue.
Ralph Sacco, MD, a neurology professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, notes, "Migraine headaches can mimic a stroke due to similar neurological symptoms. My advice is to treat it as a stroke and seek immediate help; we'll determine the cause."
Migraine symptoms and their prevalence include:
- Throbbing, pulsating pain – 85 percent
- Sensitivity to light – 80 percent
- Sensitivity to sound – 76 percent
- Nausea – 73 percent
- Unilateral pain – 59 percent
- Visual disturbances, blurred vision – 44 percent
- Aura – 36 percent
- Vomiting – 29 percent
2. SUDDEN COGNITIVE ISSUES (OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR FATIGUE OR EXHAUSTION)
In today's fast-paced society, sudden cognitive deficits have become common. Longer work hours, increased commuting, and additional responsibilities contribute to our exhaustion.
Fatigue leads to cognitive difficulties. Yet, frequent noticeable cognitive impairments, such as repeated "tip of the tongue" moments, are not typical.
Dr. Brockington notes, "Occasionally struggling to find a word is normal, but extended periods of speechlessness or inability to speak are not."
3. SLURRED SPEECH (MEDICATIONS)
America, among other nations, is facing an anxiety epidemic, which coincides with a severe opioid crisis.
Additionally, there's a significant issue with the overprescription of medications by doctors.
Slurred speech can be a side effect of various medications, including those mentioned previously. While many attribute speech issues to medication, if slurred speech is not a common side effect for you, it's crucial to seek immediate medical attention, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms indicative of a stroke.
4. NUMBNESS (COMPRESSED NERVE)
Waking up with a limb that has "fallen asleep," known as a compressed nerve, is common. However, Dr. Sacco advises, "Don't dismiss it as hypochondria. If your arm suddenly becomes numb or weak and doesn't recover quickly, call 911."
For those experiencing persistent numbness or weakness on one side of the body and wishing to avoid alarm, the Mayo Clinic suggests, "Try lifting both arms overhead. If one arm starts to drop, it could indicate a stroke. The same applies if one side of your mouth droops when smiling."
5. VISION PROBLEMS (DUE TO EXHAUSTION OR AGING)
Indeed, exhaustion can affect vision.
Aging? Possibly, especially without the correct prescription glasses.
However, vision issues like blurriness, double vision, or sudden vision loss may signal a stroke. Dr. Brockington notes, "Double vision is not typical from mere tiredness..."
A blocked blood vessel to the brain can lead to visual disturbances.
STROKE PREVENTION
Prevention is always the best medicine. Harvard Medical School suggests seven preventive actions for diabetes:
- Reduce your blood pressure
- Shed excess weight
- Increase physical activity
- Consume alcohol in moderation
- Address atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat)
- Manage diabetes
- Quit smoking
The National Stroke Association endorses the F-A-S-T method to recognize a potential stroke.
- (F)ace: "Does one side of the face droop when smiling?"
- (A)rms: "Does one arm drift downward when both arms are raised?"
- (S)peech: "Is speech slurred or strange?"
- (T)ime: "If any of these signs are observed in yourself or someone else, immediately call 911."
