Stroke Symptoms: Recognise Them Fast, Act Faster

A stroke is a medical emergency in which blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain cells begin dying within minutes. Doctors have a saying: time is brain. Every minute of delay can mean the loss of millions of brain cells and a greater chance of permanent disability or death.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India, and a growing number of patients are in their 30s and 40s. The good news is that rapid treatment can dramatically improve recovery, and most strokes are preventable.

Types of Stroke

Ischaemic stroke (about 85 percent)

A clot blocks an artery supplying the brain. It may form in the brain's own vessels or travel from the heart or neck arteries.

Haemorrhagic stroke (about 15 percent)

A weakened vessel bursts and bleeds into or around the brain. This is often linked to uncontrolled high blood pressure, and it can be more severe.

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Sometimes called a "mini-stroke." Symptoms appear and then disappear, usually within minutes to an hour, as the blockage clears itself. A TIA is a serious warning. A significant proportion of people who have one go on to have a full stroke, often within days. Treat it as an emergency.

The Warning Signs: BE-FAST

Use this simple checklist:

• B – Balance: sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or trouble walking
• E – Eyes: sudden blurred or double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• F – Face: one side of the face droops; ask the person to smile and look for unevenness
• A – Arm: weakness or numbness in one arm or leg; ask them to raise both arms and see if one drifts down
• S – Speech: slurred, strange, or confused speech; difficulty understanding
• T – Time: note the time symptoms began and call for emergency help immediately

Other Possible Symptoms

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause, sometimes with vomiting (especially in bleeding strokes)
• Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding what others are saying
• Numbness or tingling on one side of the body
• Trouble swallowing
• Sudden loss of coordination
• Drowsiness or loss of consciousness

Symptoms come on suddenly. Slow, gradual changes over weeks are less typical of stroke, but any new neurological symptom needs evaluation.

Stroke Symptoms in Women

Women can have the classic signs, but may also report:

• Sudden hiccups
• Nausea or vomiting
• General weakness
• Chest pain or palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden behavioural changes or confusion

These less typical symptoms can delay recognition. When in doubt, seek help.

What To Do Immediately

1. Call emergency services or get to the nearest stroke-capable hospital at once. Do not wait to see if it improves.
2. Note the exact time symptoms started. This decides which treatments are possible.
3. Do not give food, water, or medicine, including aspirin, unless a doctor says so. Aspirin is dangerous if the stroke is caused by bleeding.
4. Keep the person calm, lying down with head slightly raised, and loosen tight clothing.
5. If they vomit or are drowsy, turn them onto their side to protect the airway.
6. Do not drive them yourself if an ambulance is available; paramedics can alert the hospital in advance.
7. Bring a list of medicines and medical history if possible.

Avoid home remedies, waiting for sleep to "fix it," or travelling long distances to a preferred hospital. Go to the nearest hospital that can manage stroke.

Why Timing Matters: The Treatment Window

For an ischaemic stroke:

• Clot-dissolving medicine (thrombolysis) works best when given within about 4.5 hours of symptom onset.
• Mechanical thrombectomy, in which a specialist physically removes the clot using a catheter, can help in selected patients with large vessel blockage up to many hours later, based on brain imaging.

These treatments can turn a devastating stroke into a recoverable one, but only if the patient arrives in time. Haemorrhagic strokes need urgent blood pressure control and sometimes surgery.

How Stroke Is Diagnosed

• Rapid clinical assessment
• CT scan of the brain to distinguish bleeding from a blockage
• MRI for detailed assessment
• CT or MR angiography to look at blood vessels
• Blood tests, ECG, and heart monitoring to look for causes such as atrial fibrillation
• Carotid ultrasound and echocardiography

Risk Factors

Medical

• High blood pressure (the single most important)
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Atrial fibrillation and other heart disease
• Previous stroke or TIA
• Carotid artery narrowing
• Sleep apnoea
• Blood clotting disorders

Lifestyle

• Smoking and tobacco chewing
• Excess alcohol
• Obesity and physical inactivity
• Diet high in salt, saturated fat, and processed food
• Chronic stress and poor sleep
• Air pollution exposure (a recognised contributor in Indian cities)

Non-modifiable

• Age (risk rises after 55, but younger stroke is increasingly seen)
• Family history
• Male sex (though women have a higher lifetime risk and worse outcomes)

How To Prevent a Stroke

Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

• Check your blood pressure regularly and keep it below target
• Control blood sugar and have HbA1c checked
• Manage cholesterol with diet and, when advised, statins
• Stop smoking and tobacco in any form
• Limit alcohol
• Eat well: more vegetables, fruit, dal, whole grains, nuts, and fish; less salt, fried food, and sugar
• Exercise at least 150 minutes weekly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Take prescribed medicines regularly, especially blood thinners for atrial fibrillation and blood pressure tablets
• Treat sleep apnoea if you snore heavily and feel unrefreshed
• Get an annual checkup, especially after 40

Recovery and Rehabilitation

Recovery starts early and continues for months.

• Physiotherapy rebuilds strength and mobility
• Occupational therapy helps with daily tasks
• Speech therapy for language and swallowing difficulties
• Psychological support because depression and anxiety are common after stroke
• Secondary prevention: medicines and lifestyle changes to prevent another stroke

Family support makes a big difference. Patience matters; improvement can continue for a year or more.

Care at Prakash Hospital Noida

At Prakash Hospital Noida, our emergency, neurology, and critical care teams are equipped to assess and manage stroke emergencies with prompt imaging and treatment, followed by rehabilitation and long-term prevention guidance.

Whether you live in Sector 18, Sector 62, Greater Noida West, or anywhere nearby, Prakash Hospital Noida is a trusted name for stroke and neurological emergency care in Noida.

To book a consultation, call the number.

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