A stroke could be a life-threatening condition. Knowing about its signs and symptoms can provide a great deal of help in taking measures before things take a turn for the worst.
Strokes are mainly of two types; hemorrhagic and ischemic. The former occurs because of the bursting of a blood vessel, whereas the latter occurs due to a blood clot in the brain. According to experts, men are more susceptible to a stroke than women. Symptoms that may indicate a stroke are as follows:
Headache
One of the most common symptoms of a stroke are headaches. A man experiencing a stroke might suffer from severe headaches on either side of the head.
Inability to Understand and Speak
A stroke affects the sensory organs to a large extent. Men suffering from a stroke attack, normally lose their ability to read, write, speak, and most importantly, understand what is going on around them.
Vision Problems
A stroke affects the brain directly, therefore it is quite possible that a man might be confronted with vision problems such as impaired vision or seeing double, in either or both the eyes.
Numbness in Various Body Parts
A stroke might also lead to numbness in the hands, legs, arms, or facial parts on either side of the body. The probable reason behind this might be insufficient blood supply to the aforementioned body parts.
Improper Coordination
Another symptom of a stroke is lack of coordination of different body parts and its movements. The individual usually experiences dizziness and loses control over their voluntary body functions, and therefore might also collapse.
Stroke Treatment and Prevention
The type of treatment usually depends upon the cause and the type of stroke. Ischemic strokes diagnosed within 3 to 4 hours are treated with the help of a clot melting medicine using a tissue plasminogen activator. But this is not recommended for everyone, or for those suffering from a hemorrhagic stroke. For a hemorrhagic stroke, medicines to control the immediate symptoms such as high blood pressure, fever, and brain swelling, may be administered. But for a hemorrhagic stroke with a large amount of bleeding, surgery is the only option to lower the pressure in the brain and increase the chances of the person’s survival.
Strokes are a result of insufficient blood supply to the brain. Therefore, for stroke prevention, it is necessary to introduce healthy eating habits in one’s lifestyle. Cholesterol is the prime reason behind the blockage of blood supply, therefore, foods high in cholesterol should be completely avoided. Addictions to alcohol and smoking must also be halted, since it can cause severe damage to the arteries over time. Regular exercise promotes a healthy heart and brain, therefore working out is an important part of heart health.
The above information on stroke symptoms for men, and other aspects related to strokes, will help you get a clear idea about this condition. Remember, the symptoms of a stroke usually occur without any warning, because it is a result of an interruption in the blood supply to a particular part of the brain. And more importantly, whether damage is temporary or permanent depends on how long the blood supply has been interrupted.
A brief interruption can be treated and a complete recovery can be expected, but a longer interruption mostly leads to permanent damage. Getting the problem diagnosed at an earlier stage and getting it treated as soon as you notice the aforementioned symptoms, is the key. Also, recognizing these symptoms is crucial, in order to provide a patient immediate care post stroke. It is found that seeking early treatment increases the survival rate of a person, and also prevents such an attack to occur, if patients take care of themselves thereafter.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.