An unusual early sign of stroke that you can feel in your limbs

A stroke is a medical emergency that can turn fatal in the case of a delay in treatment. There are two main types of stroke and ischemic is the most common one that accounts for around 87 per cent of all cases.

An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood vessel supplying blood to your brain gets blocked by a blood clot. This disrupts the flow of blood in the brain and the cells begin to die. Another cause of ischemic stroke can be the narrowing of arteries because of atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. It is a serious condition and increases the risk of suffering from a serious stroke in the future. The problem is that the condition does not show any obvious signs and can be hard to detect. It leads to subtle signs and one can be detected in the limbs. Recognising it and taking preventive measures at the right time can save your life.

Stroke can be a life-threatening condition. So, it is essential to recognise its signs earlier and take medical assistance earlier. This kind of stroke usually affects one side of the body and develops quite quickly. The common signs include:

Vision problems

Weakness or paralysis in your limbs

Dizziness

Confusion

Loss of coordination

Drooping of the face on one side

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One of the most common signs of Ischemic stroke is weakness or paralysis of the limbs. All the other signs of stroke may appear suddenly, but this sign can be spotted hours or sometimes days before the stroke. In this case, a person may not be able to move his/her limbs due to muscle pain or muscle tightness. It can be any side of the body or any limbs- hands or legs.

The main reason why our limbs are affected is that their functioning is controlled by our brain. The movement of limbs is triggered by the message sent from the brain which controls it. When the supply of blood in the brain decreases the exchange of instructions between them is affected. As a result, it cannot move or is paralysed. Muscle tightness and numbness are quite common in such cases.

Ischemic stroke is common in people who have a family history of stroke or who’ve had past strokes. Besides, men are more likely to suffer from it compared to women. Some health condition that increases the risk of Ischemic stroke includes:

High blood pressure

Atherosclerosis

High cholesterol

Atrial fibrillation

Prior heart attack

Sickle cell anaemia

Clotting disorders

Diabetes

Smoking

Heavy alcohol misuse

If you have a family history of stroke or are suffering from any condition that increases the risk then you need to take extra care of yourself. Here are a few things that you may do.

Having regular check-ups

Getting regular exercise

Following a heart-healthy diet

Managing bodyweight

Avoiding first-hand or secondary smoking

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