Symptoms of a stroke: how to recognize and when to call an ambulance

Facial asymmetry, weakness in the limbs, speech impairment and severe headaches may indicate a stroke, warned Alexander Umnov, a senior lecturer in the Department of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Education. In a conversation with Lenta.ru, he noted that even if the symptoms went away on their own, this could be a harbinger of a serious blow.

According to him, you can check a person with simple tests. Ask to smile - during a stroke, one corner of the mouth sags. Ask to stick out your tongue - it may not be symmetrical. Ask to raise both hands - one lowers or rises lower than the other, the same goes for the leg, often on one side of the body. Ask to pronounce a simple phrase - the speech becomes slurred, slow, the person gets confused in the words or does not understand the spoken speech.

“Sudden severe headache, like a blow to the head, with nausea, vomiting and photophobia is also a sign of a stroke. Problems with coordination and vision, unsteady gait, double vision, loss of part of the visual field, as well as confusion and severe drowsiness require calling an ambulance,” the doctor explained.

Umnov noted that sometimes the symptoms are temporary - this is a transient ischemic attack, or “micro-stroke.” The symptoms are the same, but disappear within a day. However, this is a serious precursor to a full-fledged stroke, so even if the symptoms disappear, you should consult a doctor.

In the future, you should be wary of arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, smoking and alcohol abuse, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, bleeding disorders and heredity.

“If you have several risk factors in your life, make an appointment with a general practitioner or neurologist. The doctor will assess the individual risk and draw up a prevention plan,” the specialist concluded.