Do You Know the Special Stroke Symptoms Typical to Women?
I know. Stroke happened to me.
Too many women fail to recognize the typical symptoms of stroke (mea culpa, I was one of them): numbness (especially on one side); confusion; trouble speaking, walking, or seeing; sudden severe headache with no apparent cause.
Even fewer understand the 7 special stroke symptoms that most often apply to women:
- sudden face and limb pain
- sudden hiccups
- sudden nausea
- sudden general weakness
- sudden chest pain
- sudden shortness of breath
- sudden palpitations
It occurs to me some of these might be tough to put together. Hiccups, nausea, general weakness … might be fatigue, or one of those virus bugs that always seem to be going around. Chest pain might be heartburn. Palpitations might be stress.
Or, they might be stroke.
When my stroke hit, I had three of the common the symptoms. I did not recognize them; I never dreamed I might be having a stroke. So why did I call for help? I called because
a still, small voice inside my head kept whispering: Something’s not right.
Excerpt from A Stroke of Bad Luck
Listen to your body. Don’t minimize. Don’t tough it out. Educate yourself and those you love.
Think of the cost. Think of what you–or they–might lose. Then call 9-1-1.
Do you know the symptoms of stroke?
