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by Jody Barnes

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Strokes are one of the top causes of death in all industrialized nations, but unfortunately most people do not know how to prevent strokes and recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Strokes occur when blocked or ruptured artery interrupts blood supply to the brain, killing brain cells. Brain cells cannot regenerate, which is why strokes lead to disability or death.

Many people assume that strokes only effect the elderly, but more than a quarter of stroke suffers are below the age of 65. Anyone can experience a stroke, and even if you survive a stroke, it will still change the your life and alter the lives and goals of the friends and family who care for you.

Because every minute wasted between the onset of a stroke and the initiation of medical care increases a person's risk of lifelong paralysis, speech and memory problems, or death, it is important to recognize the symptoms of stroke to ensure the best possible chance for recovery and survival.

-Symptoms-
The classic symptoms of stroke include:

Sudden numbness or paralysis on one side of the body
Sudden dizziness, or loss of balance
Inability to do tasks requiring coordination (picking things up, grabbing something)
Aphasia (difficulty speaking or understanding speech)
Confusion and memory loss
Sudden difficulty seeing
Sudden severe headache that may be accompanied by stiffness in the face or neck,

However, these can be misinterpreted or misleading, as most strokes do not cause pain, and some symptoms may be mild enough that the victim does not notice. For instance, a person having a stroke might not notice a slight droop on one side of the mouth. If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, do not keep that thought to yourself.

Some symptoms of stroke can mimic the symptoms of other medical problems. Sudden difficulty in speaking can occur because of hypoglycemia, and low blood pressure can cause sudden dizziness. If you experience or witness a symptom that could possibly indicate a stroke, then you should check for additional symptoms, even if it is easy to attribute the problem to a less severe condition. Most people experiencing strokes know that something is wrong with their body, but some are unwilling to recognize that their symptoms could be due to a stroke, and try to attribute the problem to less severe health conditions.

-Women and Strokes-
Although men are more likely to have strokes, women account for sixty percent of all deaths due to stroke. This may be due to the fact that many of the classic stroke symptoms

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