Fact 5: Recognizing the Symptoms of Cerebrovascular Disease
Understanding the signs and symptoms of cerebrovascular disease is crucial. Why, you ask? Well, quick recognition can lead to faster treatment, which might help limit the disease’s damage. The symptoms can be varied, depending on the type of cerebrovascular disease and the area of the brain that’s affected.
The most common symptoms associated with cerebrovascular disease include sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion or trouble speaking, and sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. These symptoms can occur suddenly and are often severe.
In some cases, people with cerebrovascular disease might experience a severe headache without a known cause. Balance issues, including sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination, are also common.
In the case of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), these symptoms are temporary and resolve within a few minutes or hours. However, even if the symptoms do resolve, medical attention is still needed. Why? Because a TIA is often a warning sign of a future stroke. (5)
