A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. This can cause brain cells to die in minutes. A stroke is a medical emergency and prompt treatment is crucial. But can you actually feel a stroke happening in your head?
The short answer is sometimes yes, you may be able to feel symptoms of a stroke occurring. But strokes can also happen without you realizing it. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke is vital for getting timely treatment.
What Does a Stroke Feel Like?
The symptoms of a stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected and how severe it is. Strokes are usually classified as either ischemic (clots blocking blood flow) or hemorrhagic (bleeding in the brain).
Here are some common sensations people report feeling during a stroke:
– Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, often only on one side of the body. This is one of the most common stroke symptoms.
– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech. The person may be unaware or confused about what’s happening.
– Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes, like blurry vision, double vision or sudden loss of vision.
– Sudden, severe headache with no known cause. Some describe this as the “worst headache of my life.”
– Loss of balance or coordination. The person may suddenly fall over or have trouble walking.
– Dizziness or vertigo sensation. The person feels like the room is spinning.
Ischemic Stroke Sensations
With an ischemic stroke, the area of the brain affected loses blood flow and oxygen. This can cause these sudden neurological symptoms. The severity depends on how much of the brain is deprived of blood flow.
People may describe:
– A sudden feeling that one side of the body is numb, weak or paralyzed. This is often localized to just the arm, leg and face on one side.
– Tingling, pins-and-needles or reduced sensation in the limbs or face on one side.
– Sudden loss of vision in one eye or part of the visual field.
– An inability to speak or understand speech.
– Feeling very dizzy or unsteady on the feet.
– Partial or complete loss of coordination on one side of the body.
Hemorrhagic Stroke Sensations
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain tissue. This causes rapid damage due to the pressure and swelling inside the skull.
Symptoms often come on suddenly and may include:
– A sudden, explosive “thunderclap” headache, sometimes described as the worst head pain ever felt.
– Other headache symptoms like nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity.
– Vision changes like blurred or double vision.
– Dizziness, loss of balance or trouble walking.
– Rapid loss of consciousness in some cases due to bleeding and buildup of pressure in the brain.
Why You May Not Feel a Stroke
While many people report feeling new neurological symptoms during a stroke, it’s also possible to have a stroke without realizing it. Here’s why:
– The area of the brain affected may not cause physical sensations you can feel. Some strokes only cause “silent” symptoms like confusion or vision loss.
– You’re asleep or unconscious when the stroke occurs, so you’re unaware of any symptoms. But when you wake up, symptoms may be present.
– Some people experience small “mini-strokes” with fleeting symptoms that are easy to ignore. Over time, mini-strokes can cause substantial damage.
– The stroke affects parts of the brain involved in perceiving sensations, so you’re unable to perceive that anything is wrong.
– You have reduced sensation from a previous medical condition, masking new stroke symptoms.
– The stroke causes significant confusion, making it hard to recognize unusual sensations and symptoms.
So while a stroke often does cause noticeable new feelings and sensations, it’s important to be aware it can also happen without you feeling anything in your head. Recognizing the signs of stroke in yourself and others quickly is key.
When to Seek Emergency Treatment
If you experience any sudden neurological symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately, even if they go away. Calling 911 or your local emergency number at the first signs can make a big difference.
Here are signs you may be having a stroke:
– Sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
– Slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
– Vision changes in one or both eyes like dim, blurry or double vision.
– Confusion, disorientation or difficulty thinking clearly.
– Dizziness, loss of coordination and balance.
– New severe, persistent headache with no known cause.
– Any new unexplained neurological symptom.
Prompt treatment with clot-busting medications or surgery may be able to stop brain damage from a stroke. But these treatments need to be given within several hours from the start of symptoms to work.
What Does a Stroke Feel Like to Others?
For family, friends and bystanders who think someone may be having a stroke, the signs can be equally as obvious.
Here are some common observations by others that someone may be experiencing a stroke:
– Their face seems to droop on one side and they are unable to smile.
– They are slurring speech or unable to speak.
– They cannot lift one arm all the way up or keep it raised.
– Their balance is unsteady and they seem to be stumbling or falling over.
– One side of their body doesn’t move normally and they seem weak or paralyzed on that side.
– They are extremely confused and unable to answer simple questions.
– They complain of a severe headache or sensitivity to light and noise.
– They have visual disturbances like blurred vision or loss of vision.
– They seem very drowsy and are drifting in and out of consciousness.
Act FAST
The American Stroke Association recommends this easy mnemonic to identify stroke signs:
**F**ace – Does one side of the face droop? Ask them to smile.
**A**rms – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask them to raise both arms.
**S**peech – Is speech slurred or jumbled? Ask them to repeat a sentence.
**T**ime – If you see any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Note the time symptoms started.
Preventing a Stroke
While some risk factors for stroke like age and family history cannot be changed, many can be managed and treated to reduce your risk.
– Control high blood pressure through medications, diet and exercise. High blood pressure is a major stroke risk factor.
– Lower cholesterol levels. Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may help reduce stroke risk.
– Manage atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia that can cause blood clots and strokes. Blood thinners can reduce stroke risk for people with AFib.
– Treat carotid artery disease which causes plaque buildup in the arteries supplying blood to the brain.
– Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking damages blood vessels.
– Control diabetes through diet, medications and regular screening. Poorly managed diabetes increases the risk of stroke.
– Lose weight if overweight or obese. Being overweight strains the circulatory system.
– Exercise regularly to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight. Exercise reduces stroke risk.
– Limit alcohol intake. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure.
– Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins to support vascular health. Limit sodium intake.
Taking proactive steps to reduce your personal risk factors can help prevent a stroke from happening in the first place.
Conclusion
A stroke can sometimes cause distinct sensations like numbness, headache or dizziness as parts of the brain become injured. But not always. Recognizing and acting on the signs of stroke in yourself or others has the potential to minimize brain damage and save lives.Knowing whether you are having a stroke, and seeking immediate emergency care as soon as possible, can be crucial steps to surviving and recovering from a stroke. Increased public awareness of stroke symptoms is still needed and could make a real impact on improving outcomes of this all-too-common and potentially devastating event.