A stroke can cause many changes in your lifestyle because it can rearrange how your brain works and may force you to relearn things you knew. It also can cause partial paralysis, typically to one side of your body. When the flow of blood to your brain stops or is interrupted, a stroke has occurred. It can be caused by a clot of blood that blocks the flow or by a blood vessel breaking and bleeding into your brain. The quicker you get emergency medical aid, the more likely you are to recover more of your faculties because less damage probably will have occurred in your brain.
Headaches
Severe headaches that occur suddenly and are very sharp can be symptoms of a massive stroke. Along with this pain, other problems may occur such as vomiting, pain in your face, pain that occurs at the point in your brow between the eyes, neck stiffness and a change in consciousness. While these symptoms can be associated with other medical problems, they also can be indicators of a massive stroke.
Vision and Vocalization
Massive stroke symptoms also may include problems with how you see and how you speak. Strokes can produce visual difficulties such as diplopia, which is seeing double images, blurry vision or vision turned black. All of these will happen suddenly. Speech problems can include slurring and being unable to create coherent sentences, a condition called aphasia. The Mayo Clinic recommends a test for vocalization that can tell you whether you are having a massive stroke. If you are unable to repeat a sentence that is quite simple, such as "the dog is black," a stroke may be occurring.
Walking
Strokes also may cause you to lose your normal coordination. This symptom includes incoordination or loss of balance and dizziness, all of which come upon you suddenly. You may stumble or be unable to walk normally.
Paralysis
Most people are familiar with paralysis as a symptom of a massive stroke. This is a classic symptom and also can remain after the stroke itself. It typically occurs on one side of your body and can present itself as full paralysis or numbness or weakness. The Mayo Clinic also recommends a test for this. Put both arms above your head and watch to see whether one begins to descend on its own. This can be an indication of a massive stroke.
