There are times when the brain does not get sufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen. This usually occurs when there is a problem with the blood flow to the brain. The flow of blood can be obstructed due to plaque buildup or weak blood vessels. When the brain is starved for oxygen and nutrients, it results in a stroke. A stroke can cause permanent damage to that part of the brain where blood flow is reduced or stopped. Therefore, knowing the early warning signs of a stroke is extremely important. If a person is aware of the warning signs, he/she can get emergency medical treatment before the full stroke occurs and causes permanent brain damage.

Some of the early warning signs of strokes are as follows:

• Sudden onset of confusion
• Having problems speaking as well as understanding what others are saying
• Experiencing sudden numbness in the limbs or face
• Having vision problems, such as blurred vision or double vision
• Having problems walking
• Unable to keep balance and co-ordination
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Excruciating headache that comes on all of a sudden
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures

If a person has any of these symptoms, he/she should immediately seek medical attention. Usually, these symptoms will stay for a short duration of time, but even then medical assistance is a must. When the early symptoms last for just a few minutes, they are because of a transient ischemic attack that the person is experiencing. This attack is often referred to as a mini stroke. However, till today, medical science has not been able to devise a method to distinguish whether the symptoms are due to a stroke or transient ischemic attack. Hence, it is important that within an hour of experiencing the early symptoms, a person seeks medical attention and appropriate treatment.

In the US, strokes are one of the leading causes of disability among people. It is also the 3rd leading cause of deaths in the country. So, the sooner a person gets the necessary treatment, the better the chances that the person would recover completely from the stroke.

While doctors can give you a list of early warning signs of a stroke, it is not necessary that all people will experience those symptoms. This is especially true for women, who often do not experience the classic warning signs. Many women complain of sudden nausea, extreme weakness, pain in the chest, palpitations, shortness of breath and/or hiccups before a full-fledged stroke. So, anything that a person deems as unusual should be checked by a doctor. Even something as mundane as rapid eye movements or twitching of the eyes or muscles should be treated as early warning signs of a stroke and the person should immediately go to the nearest emergency department of a hospital.

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