A stroke, also referred to as a “brain attack,” is a serious medical emergency. It occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, often by a blood clot. When this happens, the death process of brain cells begin – because they don’t get the oxygen and nutrients they need. Strokes or brain hemorrhages are the leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, nearly 800,000 people have a stroke. That’s 1 out of every 20 people. Strokes can also cause long-term disability.
There are many different symptoms of a stroke. Some people may experience sudden numbness or weakness on one side of their body. Others may have a sudden headache, dizziness, or trouble speaking. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is essential, because the earlier it is treated, the better the outcome.
1Top 7 Common Symptoms of a stroke
Headache Â
When most people think of a stroke, they think of a debilitating event that leaves the victim with physical impairments. However, strokes can also cause headaches. In fact, headache is one of the most common symptoms of stroke.
While any type of headache can be a sign of stroke, tension headaches and migraine headaches are the most common. These types of headaches are caused by tightness and inflammation in the muscles surrounding the skull.
Strokes can also cause other types of headaches, such as cluster headaches and rebound headaches. Cluster headaches are rare but very severe, and they occur in clusters over a period of days or weeks. Rebound headaches are caused by medication overuse and occur when someone takes too much medication to treat their migraines or tension headaches.
