- Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, an arm or a leg, or on one side of your body (The most common warning sign)
- Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
- Loss of speech, or difficulty talking or understanding speech
- Sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause
- Dizziness, unsteadiness, or a sudden fall, especially along with any of the above symptoms
What are the risk factors for stroke, who is at risk, how is risk reduced?
Risk factors
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Cigarette smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
People at risk
- Men and women age 55 and over
- Stroke or TIA survivors
- Heart and vascular disease sufferers
- People with diabetes
- Men and women with a family history of stroke
- People with sickle cell anemia
Risk Reduction
- Don't smoke
- Work with a healthcare professional to control blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight
- Incorporate physical activity into daily routine
- Develop healthy eating habits
For those who have experienced an ischemic stroke or TIA, aspirin has been proven to reduce the risk of another ischemic stroke when taken as directed by a doctor. Aspirin is not appropriate for everyone, so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin or modify an aspirin regimen
