Do not underestimate a severe headache, it can be one of the symptoms of a stroke.

Stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency and is the leading cause of death worldwide. Manifested by focal or general disorders of brain function. It is the third leading cause of death in our country after cancer and cardiovascular disease. The degree of recovery of the patient after a stroke depends on how quickly he is treated by specialists. In this situation, reaction time is extremely important, so it is important to know how a stroke manifests itself. One of its symptoms is a severe headache - although it is quite common and there are more than 300 types of headaches, in some cases it can portend a really serious danger.

Severe headache as a symptom of a stroke

Such a sudden and severe headache can be one of the first symptoms of a stroke. Usually occurs with hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs in 15 percent of cases, most often a complication of hypertension. It is then accompanied by other symptoms such as paresis or paralysis. Headache is less common with ischemic stroke.

Do not ignore a sudden and worsening headache, as this can be a clear signal from the body that something is wrong. And while it can be caused by many factors, stroke is one of them. However, keep in mind that this is a symptom that may or may not occur. Headaches are also accompanied by: dizziness (with a feeling of whirling), nausea, vomiting.

Other Stroke Symptoms

In addition to severe and sudden headaches, there are other symptoms that may indicate a stroke. This:

• limb paresis (paralysis/numbness of the face, arms, legs) is the most common clinical symptom of stroke and occurs in 80 percent of cases,

• other movement disorders (involuntary movements may be an occasional initial symptom of ischemic stroke),

• walking problems - stumbling, loss of balance, coordination of movements,

• vision problems (in one or both eyes) or double vision

• speech disorders (slurred speech, gibberish, difficulty understanding what others are saying),

• disturbances of consciousness.

Stroke is the main time here!

It is worth knowing the most important facts about stroke. It can happen anywhere and anytime, sometimes without any warning signs. In such a situation, you need to act quickly - this will help reduce brain damage and, therefore, avoid disability. There are three types of stroke:

• Hemorrhagic stroke - accounts for about 20 percent of all cases and is the result of intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Ischemic attack - occurs most often, in 80 percent of cases the artery closes, which means that the blood supply to the brain is limited.
• Venous stroke - is extremely rare, accounting for only about 1 percent of all cases. Appears as a result of thrombosis of the venous sinuses of the brain.

The life and health of a person who has had a stroke depends on how quickly the surrounding people react and call for help. If you notice someone showing signs of a stroke, you should intervene immediately. First aid in this situation is, first of all, to call a karateka as soon as possible. You must also tell the dispatcher if you develop symptoms that could indicate a stroke.

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Stroke risk factors can be divided into non-modifiable (those that we cannot control) and modifiable (those that we can control). Non-modifiable risk factors include:

• age – the incidence of stroke increases with age,

• gender - men are more likely to get sick,

• genetic factors.

Modifiable risk factors that increase the risk of stroke include:

• hypertension,

• lack of physical activity

• abdominal type of obesity,

• tobacco smoking,

• malnutrition,

• other cardiovascular diseases,

• diabetes,

• nicotinism,

• alcohol abuse.