A numb arm. Blurry vision. Slurred speech. What if it’s a stroke? A stroke is one of the most feared medical emergencies, but also one of the least understood by the general public.
Every minute counts : recognizing the early signs can make all the difference. So, how do you know if someone—or you—is having a stroke? Here’s what you need to know to take action now.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the brain is no longer properly supplied with blood . This can result from:
- either an obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot (this is called an ischemic stroke );
- either a rupture of this vessel, causing a cerebral hemorrhage (we speak of a hemorrhagic stroke ).
In both cases, the neurons deprived of oxygen die quickly , causing after-effects that can be serious: motor disorders, memory loss, speech difficulties, etc. In the most serious cases, the stroke can be fatal.
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