According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), stroke is the third-leading cause of death among adults in the USA. A quick response is key to preventing death and/or major disability resulting from stroke. In fact, the NINDS reports that receiving treatment within an hour of having a stroke can help prevent many disabilities. you Knowing the signs of an imminent stroke can mean the difference between life and death. If notice any of the signs of imminent stroke in yourself or someone you are with, especially if more than one occur at the same time, it is important to get immediate medical attention.
Numbness
When someone is about to have a stroke, he often develop numbness either in the arms, legs or face. More often than not, the numbness occurs only on one side of the body and appears very suddenly. Some people may find it difficult to coordinate their arms and legs because of this. If the face is affected, he may also start to drool uncontrollably.
Poor Coordination
Coordination is another sign of an imminent stroke. A person may have difficulty walking, reaching for or even grasping objects. She may not be able to sign her name, touch a finger to her nose or bring a utensil to her mouth. This impaired coordination, like numbness, is usually on one side of the body. It can also cause slurred speech, as the tongue and lips are often affected as well.
Weakness
In addition to numbness and decreased coordination, one side of the body may suddenly be weaker than the other. A person who is having a stroke may notice that his leg can no longer support his full body weight or that it is difficult to raise one of his arms up. This can occur in the face as well. If a person can suddenly only smile with one side of his mouth, it is a sign of an imminent stroke.
Confusion
Another common first symptom of imminent stroke is confusion. A person may forget what she was doing. She may also have trouble saying what she means or making sense of the words someone else says to her. A person having a stroke may stammer or stop mid-sentence, unable to continue or find the words she was looking for.
Visual Problems
A person who is having a stroke may also have visual problems. He may lose part of his field of vision, experience tunnel vision or even have blurry vision. For some people, this may happen without them even being aware. A person having a stroke may bump into objects on his affected side simply because he does not see them.
Severe Headache
A common sign of imminent stroke is a sudden, severe headache. It may or may not be accompanied by dizziness or loss of balance.
