The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports stroke as the third leading cause of death among Americans. In 2007, strokes caused one in nearly 17 deaths, according to the CDC. Strokes occur when blood cannot reach the brain, often due to a blood clot, or embolism. Brain hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain, caused by the rupture of an artery may also cause a stroke. The American Heart Association reports stroke warning signs do not always occur simultaneously; many times only one warning sign is present. The association recommends not ignoring any possible signs of a stroke and seeking emergency treatment immediately. Early medical intervention is required to prevent severe, life altering complications.
Sensory Loss and Appearance
One of the first symptoms of an impending stroke is a sudden numbness or weakness to one side of the body including the arms, face or legs. Lifting an arm or walking can be impaired. The face can appear droopy or lopsided. Vision loss can be experienced, often in one eye. The eyes may also become paralyzed or point in different directions, reports the Merck Manual. The pupils can become extremely large or small. A person often feels dizzy, loses his balance or becomes uncoordinated, according to Familydoctor.org.
Behavior, Mental Alertness and Communication
A person's behavior and mental alertness levels can also change. It is common for a person to have trouble following a conversation or simple directions. Speech may be difficult to understand due to slurred words. A person's level of alertness may decline. According to the Women's Heart Foundation, fainting, confusion, convulsions and even a coma may occur prior to the onset of a stroke.
Headache and Additional Symptoms
An unexplained, severe headache is associated with brain bleeding. According to the Merck Manual, half the people suffering from inner brain bleeding leading to strokes suffer from severe headaches, often occurring during physical activity. Onset of nausea and vomiting, within several minutes or hours, are additional signs of an impending stroke.
Transient Ischemic Attacks
Transient ischemic attacks, also known as TIAs, are a major warning sign that a stroke may occur soon. The brain is signaling the body that there is a lack of oxygen; a temporary obstruction of circulation is present. Symptoms of a stroke can appear for a short time, often minutes, and then fade away. MayoClinic.com reports one out of three people experiencing a TIA, experience a stroke within one year. More than one TIA may occur and each episode can be different.
