A stroke, known in medical terms as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is sudden damage to the brain. It can be caused by a disruption of the blood supply or damage to the blood vessels in the brain. As a result, parts of the brain are no longer supplied with enough blood and oxygen.
The symptoms of a stroke usually occur suddenly and can include the following:
- Sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body (drooping arm, difficulty walking, drooping corner of the mouth).
- Speech disorders (slurred speech, difficulty finding words)
- Visual disturbances (double vision, loss of vision)
- Dizziness, nausea, loss of balance
- Sudden, very severe headache
A stroke is always a medical emergency and must be treated as rapidly as possible. The sooner the emergency medical care is provided, the better the chances of recovery.
The website gesundheit.gv.at provides a detailed description of how to recognise a stroke based on its symptoms.