Could you be one of the 425,000 women who experience a brain attack/stroke each year?
Yesterday, we covered Your Chances for Having a Female Brain Attack. Today is a follow-up to recognizing the symptoms.
There are two sets of brain attack/stroke symptoms to be aware of. The first is five classic symptoms that are usually associated with both men and women. The second is seven symptoms that are unique to women and often go unrecognized for their potential danger. Women lacking awareness of these unique symptoms often dismiss them and delay seeking critical medical assistance.
The five classic brain attack/stroke symptom to be aware of are:
- Weakness or numbness occurring in the face, arm, leg (usually on only one side of the body)
- Mental confusion, inability to speak or understand coherently
- Blurring of vision in either both or one eye
- Inability to walk, onset of dizziness or loss of balance and/or coordination
- Severe headache without a known cause
- Female Stroke Signs – womenshealth.gov
The Seven unique brain attack/stroke symptoms for women are:
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Sudden onset pain in the face and limb
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Sudden onset of hiccups
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Sudden onset of nausea
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Sudden onset of a general weakness
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Sudden onset of chest pain
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Sudden onset of shortness of breath
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Sudden onset of palpitations
The Four Reasons why you immediately call 911
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Medical treatment needs to begin within three hours of experiencing a brain attack/stroke for maximum recovery
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A brain attack/stroke is the leading cause of adult disability
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A brain attack/stroke is the third cause of death after heart disease and cancer
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Time is of the essence, for every minute the brain goes without oxygen, it loses up to 1.9 million brain cells
[I’m reinterpreting the phrase a mind is a terrible thing to waste from the United Negro College Fund campaign but it is most apropos here.]
Remember, the function of your female brain is a terrible thing to lose. Don’t wait – Call 911
by Joyce Hansen
Thank you for these lists. I’d never have suspected what was behind many of those uniquely female symptoms! I also read the lists to my husband. The poor guy’s been suspicious and dismayed by the odd workings of female brains and plumbing his whole life. It doesn’t help that his wife hasn’t yet found the pause in menopause after years and years! Oops. TMI. Hee.
This is such great information! I just read this post to my husband in case I ever have any of the symptoms. Thanks so much
Wow Joyce, thanks for alerting us. I never would have thought female symptoms would be different. Especially hiccups. I also didn’t know about the 3 hour window for maximum recovery. I know it was urgent, but this puts it all into more perspective. My grandmother and aunt had strokes and were never the same (speech was slurred, could walk, etc). So I always thought the severity of the stroke affected the outcome. I’m happy to hear it’s possible for maximum recovery due to time.
You provide such useful information!
Gwen