Stroke Patients Many people ignore the signs of a stroke, and this can cost a patient his or her life. In order to know how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, it is important to understand exactly what a stroke is. What is a Stroke? A stroke is essentially a brain attack. It occurs when blood flow to one or more areas of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. As the brain cells die off, any bodily function that was controlled by that area of the brain is lost. This can be memory, or muscle. The seriousness of the stroke is determined by how much, and where the brain was affected. A stroke patient can suffer temporary paralysis, or in severe cases it can be permanent. Symptoms of a Stroke • Weakness in one arm, one leg, or both. This can be a feeling of total numbness, to a feeling of losing muscle control. Weakness or twitching on one side of the face. This can create drooling, or a drooping mouth. • Balance issues. The inability to stand up without losing balance. Vision and speech may also be affected, and the patient may be unable to swallow. • Severe dizziness, to the point of not being able to stand and walk • Confusion. Sudden confusion, unable to think about where you are or who you are with. • Loss of consciousness. This happens in severe cases and is very dangerous. Mini Stroke Mini-strokes are similar to a stroke; however, they will last for 24 hours or less. It is a result of a temporary lack of blood to a portion of the brain. The correct name for this is transient ischaemic, or TIA. In most cases a TIA comes from a small blood clot that is lodged in a very small blood vessel within the brain. The blockage stops blood flow and the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen. This last for a few minutes, and then the clot moves or breaks up and the brain is restored to normal. Related:
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