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Stroke Health Center

Stroke Overview

Stroke is brain damage caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, blurred vision, confusion, and slurred speech. Getting to a hospital quickly is vital for a good outcome with a stroke.

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Gender Gap in Stroke Symptoms?
Women may be more likely than men to have "nontraditional" stroke symptoms, especially disorientation, confusion, or loss of consciousness, according to a new study.

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Symptoms

If you have symptoms of a stroke, seek emergency medical care. General symptoms of a stroke include sudden onset of:

  • Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, typically on one side of the body.
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, such as dimness, blurring, double vision, or loss of vision.
  • Confusion, trouble understanding.
  • Slurred or garbled speech.
  • Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • Severe headache.
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