4 Stroke Symptoms: Signs of a Stroke & What to Do

A stroke is when blood flow to the brain is completely blocked and affects the brain’s blood supply. This can result in a lack of oxygen and vital nutrients that the brain requires to function, causing brain cells to die within minutes.

A stroke is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. It can result in permanent brain damage or disability, and in some cases, even death.

It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a stroke. One way to quickly determine the possibility of a stroke is by referencing the F.A.S.T test:

1. Cara: If the side of a person’s face droops or is numb, ask the person to smile—if half of their face doesn’t move or is drooping, this can potentially indicate a stroke.

2. Debilidad en los brazos: Si un brazo está débil o entumecido, pídale a la persona que levante los brazos. ¿Se desplaza un brazo hacia abajo?

3. Dificultad para hablar: If the person has sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech. Is speech slurred? Do they experience sudden confusion about what is being said?

4. Hora de llamar al 911: If a person is experiencing previous symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Otros síntomas del ictus

Existen otros posibles signos de advertencia de ictus al margen de la prueba F.A.S.T, entre ellos

• Numbness (sudden numbness in the face arm or leg)

• Dolor de cabeza intenso y repentino

• Confusión

• Problemas para ver, hablar o caminar

There are two main causes of a stroke, which are:

• Arteria obstruida: when a brain artery is blocked (often due to plaque buildup and blood clots) blood flow is restricted to the brain thus causing a stroke.
• Vaso sanguíneo roto: when a brain blood vessel bursts, it can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the brain, inducing a stroke.

There are a few different types of strokes, including ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic.

Accidente cerebrovascular isquémico

This is the most common type of stroke. It occurs when the brain’s blood vessels become extremely narrow or restricted and results in limited to no blood flow. This causes the brain’s oxygen supply to be reduced or even cut off completely.

Accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico

This occurs when a blood vessel in a person’s brain leaks or experiences rupture. With this type of stroke, a lot of pressure has built up in the brain tissue which can lead to more damage and inflammation in comparison to other stroke types. This type of stroke is more common in those with high blood pressure.

Ataque isquémico transitorio (AIT)

This is also referred to as a mini stroke, and isn’t the same as a typical stroke. The main difference is a TIA produces the same signs and symptoms of stroke, but the signs/​symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours. A TIA occurs when a blood clot or fatty deposit blocks blood flow to part of the nervous system. If you believe you’ve had a TIA, it is still extremely important to seek medical attention.

If a person has already experienced a stroke, a PCP may recommend medications to help reduce the possibility of another one occurring. Examples of these include:

• Antiagregantes plaquetarios: these drugs are used to make platelets in the blood (which form clots) less sticky, therefore reducing the risk of a blood clot forming. Aspirin is the most common anti-platelet drug.

• Anticoagulantes: Estos medicamentos son anticoagulantes que también ayudan a reducir las posibilidades de coagulación de la sangre. La heparina, el Jantoven (también conocido como warfarina) y el Eliquis son los anticoagulantes que se administran con más frecuencia.

Algunos factores de riesgo de ictus son

• Hipertensión arterial
• Diabetes
• Enfermedades que afectan al corazón y los vasos sanguíneos
• Colesterol alto
• Fumar
• Edad
• Family history/​genetics
• Ansiedad, depresión o niveles elevados de estrés
• Certain medical conditions such as:
  • Anemia Falciforme
  • Bleeding Disorders (such as vitamin K deficiency bleeding, liver disease-associated bleeding, etc.)
  • Enfermedad renal

If a person shows signs of a stroke, seek medical attention immediately. The F.A.S.T test can be a quick indicator of when to seek emergency care. Given that strokes can quickly cause permanent damage, it’s important to get emergency medical care as quickly as possible so they can begin life-saving treatment.

If a person’s symptoms quickly disappear, it is still important to get medical attention, as it could indicate a larger possibility of a stroke later on. Early treatment can make a significant difference.

Even after a stroke and receiving treatment, there can still be additional complications, including:

• Edema cerebral: swelling of the brain after a stroke.
• Neumonía: a lung infection that causes breathing problems. Pneumonia can result after a stroke due to the inability to move around much.
• Convulsiones: Actividad eléctrica anormal en el cerebro que provoca convulsiones indeseadas. Suelen ser más frecuentes en los accidentes cerebrovasculares más graves.
• Dolor de hombro: this may stem from a lack of support of an arm due to weakness or paralysis. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) — blood clots form in the leg veins because of immobility from a stroke.

Treating a stroke requires immediate attention to increase the chances of survival and reduce the possibility of complications.

Tratamientos del ictus isquémico

An ischemic stroke is when the brain’s blood vessels become narrowed or restricted, preventing blood flow to the brain. Treatments for this type of stroke include:

• Medicación intravenosa de emergencia: these drugs must be administered within 4.5 hours of when symptoms first appeared in order to be effective, and they work to dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke.
• Procedimientos endovasculares de urgencia: these are used to treat strokes directly inside the blocked blood vessel, and can include medications delivered to the brain using a catheter tube or using a device attached to a catheter to directly remove the blood clot causing the stroke.

Tratamientos del ictus hemorrágico

Hemorrhagic strokes are when a brain’s blood vessel experiences rupture or starts leaking, causing blood to leak in the brain. Treatments for this type of stroke include:

• Medicamentos: Dado que los tratamientos del ictus hemorrágico se centran en minimizar la hemorragia, pueden administrarse medicamentos a quienes toman anticoagulantes para contrarrestar sus efectos. Además, pueden administrarse medicamentos para ayudar a prevenir la inflamación del cerebro o reducir la tensión arterial.
• Cirugía: if the area that is bleeding is very large, surgery may be required to remove the blood so that pressure on the brain can be alleviated. Surgery may also be done to repair a ruptured blood vessel.
• Extirpación de malformaciones arteriovenosas (MAV): if the stroke is caused by an AVM, which is a tangle of blood vessels, surgery may be done to remove the AVM.

Some potential ways to help prevent stroke include lifestyle changes, managing medical conditions and more.

Alimentación sana

Healthier eating choices, especially those that help regulate high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, can help reduce the risk of a stroke.

Ejercicio

Combined with a healthy diet, exercise can also help with high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reduce stroke risk.

Prohibido fumar

Smoking restricts and narrows blood vessels, placing a person at a much higher risk of a stroke.

Consumo moderado de alcohol

Reducir o eliminar el consumo de alcohol puede ayudar a regular los niveles de hipertensión, reduciendo el riesgo general.

Control y seguimiento de enfermedades

Some medical conditions can carry a higher risk of stroke. Monitoring and managing these conditions can help reduce the risk of triggering a stroke.