The symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also known as stroke or stroke, can appear from one moment to the next, and depending on the part of the brain that is affected, they manifest themselves differently. Some symptoms that may be noticed are an intense and sudden headache, lack of strength on one side of the body, loss of sensitivity, drowsiness, changes in vision and mental confusion, for example.
If a stroke is suspected, it is important that SAMU is called so that appropriate guidance can be provided and, thus, complications can be prevented.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms that may indicate a stroke are:
- Intense headache that arises suddenly;
- Lack of strength on one side of the body, that is visible on the arm or leg;
- Asymmetrical facewith a crooked mouth and drooping eyebrows;
- Slurred, slow or very low-pitched speech and often imperceptible;
- Loss of sensitivity of a part of the body, not identifying cold or heat, for example;
- Difficulty remaining standing or remain seated, as the body falls to one side, making it impossible to walk or dragging one of the legs;
- Vision changessuch as partial loss of vision or blurred vision;
- Difficulty lifting your arm or holding objectsbecause the arm is dropped;
- Unusual and uncontrolled movementslike tremors;
- Somnolence or even loss of consciousness;
- Memory loss and mental confusion, not being able to carry out simple orders, such as opening your eyes and being able to become aggressive and not knowing how to mention the date or your name, for example;
- Nausea and vomiting.
Despite this, stroke can also happen without generating any visible symptoms, being discovered in tests that are carried out for some other reason. People who are most likely to have a stroke are those who have high blood pressure, are overweight or have diabetes and, therefore, should have regular doctor visits to avoid this type of complication.
What to do in case of suspicion
What can be the consequences of stroke
After a stroke, the individual may be left with sequelae, which may be temporary or very serious and which, due to lack of strength, may prevent them from walking, dressing or eating alone, for example.
Furthermore, other consequences of stroke include difficulty communicating or understanding orders, frequent choking, incontinence, loss of vision or even confused and aggressive behavior, which makes relationships with family and friends difficult.
It is very important to know that there are treatments that help reduce the consequences of stroke. Physiotherapy sessions can help you regain movement. Speech therapy sessions help to recover speech and improve communication. And occupational therapy sessions help to improve an individual’s quality of life and well-being.
To avoid these consequences, the most important thing is to prevent the stroke from happening. So learn what you can do to reduce your risk of having a stroke.
