What are the symptoms of acute stroke? What are the sequelae?

1. What are the early symptoms of stroke?

See the FAST formula above, which you can use to determine if someone may be having a stroke. In addition to the FAST formula, other symptoms of a stroke include:

(1) Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, mainly on one side of the body;

(2) Sudden confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding speech;

(3) Sudden blindness in one or both eyes;

(4) Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination;

(5) Sudden severe headache of unknown cause.

Please record the time when any of the above symptoms first occurred. If patients are given medication soon after their stroke, they may have less long-term adverse effects from stroke sequelae.

If you have or see someone around you have these symptoms, please call the emergency number 120/999 immediately! Get quick diagnosis and treatment at the hospital stroke center to get a better prognosis.

2. What are the sequelae of stroke?

A stroke can sometimes cause temporary or permanent disability, depending on how long the brain is deprived of blood flow and which part of it is affected. Some of the later symptoms are the same as the early ones and may include:

(1) Paralysis or loss of muscle movement. This may occur on one side of the body, or loss of control of certain muscles, such as those on one side of the face or one side of the arm.

(2) Difficulty speaking or swallowing. A stroke may affect the patient's control of the mouth and throat muscles, making it difficult to speak clearly, swallow or eat. There may also be difficulties with language, including speaking or understanding what others say, reading or writing.

(3) Memory loss or difficulty thinking. Many stroke patients experience partial memory loss. They may also have difficulty thinking, reasoning, making judgments, and understanding concepts (proper nouns).

(4) Emotional disorders. Stroke patients may have more difficulty controlling their emotions, or they may suffer from depression.

(5) Pain. Pain, numbness, or other unusual sensations may occur in the part of the body affected by the stroke. For example, if a stroke causes a person to lose feeling in his or her left arm, he or she may experience uncomfortable, unexplained tingling sensations in that arm.

(6) Changes in behavior and self-care ability. Stroke patients may become more withdrawn and paranoid. They may need help from others to take care of their daily life and handle housework.