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How Do You Recognise a Stroke?

Last updated: Friday, November 29, 2019 | 3 min reading time

Dr Lee Kim En

Neurologist

Every minute counts when it comes to recovering from a stroke. Recognise the warning signs and know what to do when you see them.

Every hour, on average, 1 person in Singapore suffers a stroke.

Although the risk increases with age, strokes can, and do, occur at any age. A third of all stroke cases occur in people younger than 65 years old.

When a stroke happens, the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is cut off. Needless to say, a stroke, being a leading cause of serious long term disability, is a nightmare for many patients and their families.

Signs of a stroke

It is helpful to recognise the signs of a stroke in order to take action quickly.

Weakness or numbness on one side of the arm or leg
Slurred or garbled speech
A droop or uneven smile on the face
Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding speech
Sudden dizziness or lack of coordination

If a person is experiencing any of these signs and symptoms, they must go immediately to the nearest hospital Urgent Care Centre (UCC).

Treating a stroke

Accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment are critical in managing a stroke. Rushing the patient to the hospital UCC for an immediate evaluation is the first step, as treatment is time-sensitive and every minute counts.

As soon as a doctor has confirmed that the patient is suffering from a stroke, and the brain scan shows no bleeding, a clot-busting agent may be given to the patient. This medication should be administered within 3 hours from the onset of stroke symptoms.

Some patients may be required to undergo an interventional procedure to have the culprit clot retrieved from a blocked artery in the brain.

Prevention – know the risk factors

Prevention is better than cure – especially in the case of a stroke. Yet, not many people know the necessary precautions to prevent stroke. For example, few are aware that irregular heartbeat increases the risk of stroke by 5 times. Even fewer are taking the correct blood thinner to prevent clot-formation caused during irregular heartbeat.

So how can we do better to prevent stroke?

Know the risk factors for stroke. A person is at a higher risk of stroke if they:

Have high blood pressure
Have diabetes
Have elevated cholesterol levels
Smoke
Have heart disease
Have irregular heartbeat
Are less physically active
Consume excessive alcohol

The best way to prevent stroke is by reducing your risk factors:

Bring your blood pressure under control
Quit smoking
Take the right blood thinner to manage irregular heartbeat
Exercise regularly to reduce weight and blood sugar levels

Stroke. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.singhealth.com.sg/patient-care/patient-education/stroke

High Blood Pressure, AFib and Your Risk of Stroke. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/why-atrial-fibrillation-af-or-afib-matters/high-blood-pressure-afib-and-your-risk-of-stroke