In honor of World Stroke Day, let me give you the 411 on strokes. The medical term for stroke is "cerebrovascular accident" or "CVA."
Our blood carries oxygen and delivers it to all the different cells and organs in our body. Oxygen is important for cells of our body to function normally.
A stroke is a result of decreased blood flow (leading to decreased oxygen delivery) to certain parts of the brain.
Since a stroke affects the brain, symptoms of stroke are related to functioning of the brain and include:
-Drooping of the face
-Weakness of the muscles of the face (where you can't smile, open/close eyes, open/close mouth, etc.)
-Difficulty with talking or slurred speech
-Weakness anywhere in the body, but usually the arms and/or legs
-Sudden and constant changes in vision (loss of vision, double vision, blurred vision)
-Confusion
-Difficulty with swallowing
-Sudden and constant dizziness and lightheadedness
I think a video is worth a thousand words and will help you remember these symptoms better.
Check out this video of a woman having a stroke on camera:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUzqLeC6XTQ&feature=youtu.be
When it comes to having a stroke, time matters. The more time you wait to see a doctor, the more brain function that you can lose! If you are concerned that you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, dial 911 right away!
Luckily there are ways to prevent a stroke to some degree...and I will blog more on that tomorrow!
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