Eyes. Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes should also be taken seriously and could be another possible sign of stroke. Dr. Laali said that problems with vision can be one of the more overlooked symptoms, because it's not as readily known to the general public as a potential sign of stroke.
But other, less dramatic symptoms may also signal a stroke: Weakness in the face (such as a droopy eyelid or lip) Nausea. Dizziness.
Unfortunately, doctors often miss the signs or misdiagnose strokes (research conducted by Johns Hopkins revealed that of the emergency room patients in their sample up to 13% had signs of a stroke, but were not properly diagnosed).
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
A brain CT scan can show if there is bleeding in the brain or damage to the brain cells from a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnets and radio waves to create pictures of your brain. An MRI may be used instead of—or in addition to—a CT scan to diagnose a stroke.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke. One study found that 43% of stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they had a major stroke.
Silent Doesn't Mean Harmless
The damage caused to the brain can result in significant cognitive decline or even death. It may also lead to vascular dementia. The damage that happens is permanent, but through therapy and healthy habits, stroke survivors may be able to reduce the effects and prevent future strokes.
5 How- ever, earlier studies have shown that MRI may not detect acute strokes in 10-20% of patients. 4-6 Few clinical details of the false-negative cases were provided. Although several aspects of MRI techniques, computer software, and scan interpretations have been improved, false-negative MRI results may still occur.
Thirty-seven percent of posterior strokes were initially misdiagnosed compared with 16% of anterior strokes (P<0.001).
Strokes may not be seen on a CT scan for several reasons. It can sometimes take several hours for the brain to appear abnormal after the onset of stroke. The affected region may also be a part of the brain that CT scans do not image well, such as the cerebellum or the brainstem.
Overall, dizziness and vertigo are the symptoms most tightly linked to missed stroke.
Computed tomography (CT) scan.
A CT scan uses X-rays to take pictures of the brain. A CT scan of the head is usually one of the first tests used for a stroke. A CT scan can show bleeding in the brain or damage to brain cells. The CT scan also can find other problems that can cause stroke symptoms.
Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Trouble speaking or understanding. Problems with vision, such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination.
What does that mean? A. A silent stroke refers to a stroke that doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.
Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common symptoms or signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. The following signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination: Weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on either or both sides of the body.
Stage 1: Flaccidity
In the early state of flaccid paralysis, the stroke survivor cannot initiate any muscle movements on the affected side of their body. If this continues for long enough without intervention or physical therapy, the unused muscles become much weaker, and begin to atrophy.
In stage 2 of stroke recovery, a patient starts to redevelop some of their basic limb synergies as certain muscles are stimulated or activated and other muscles in the same system begin to respond.
Some strokes last for a few minutes while others continue for hours or even days. One time-related fact that's known about strokes is that the faster you get treatment, the better your outcome is likely to be.
Tests will be done to rule out a stroke or other disorders that may cause the symptoms: You will likely have a head CT scan or brain MRI. A stroke may show changes on these tests, but TIAs will not. You may have an angiogram, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram to see which blood vessel is blocked or bleeding.