A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This cuts off oxygen to brain cells, which can cause lasting damage or even death if not treated quickly. Stroke is a medical emergency, and early treatment can make a huge difference in recovery.
That’s why it’s important to recognize the warning signs right away. While stroke symptoms can affect anyone, men may show certain early signs that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Knowing these signals could help save a life.
The most common early signs of a stroke are the same in men and women, and they usually appear suddenly. One of the easiest ways to remember these symptoms is the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services.
If a man’s face suddenly looks uneven when he tries to smile, if one arm is weak or numb, or if he slurs his words or cannot speak clearly, these are red flags. A study published in the journal Stroke found that most stroke patients had at least one FAST symptom, and getting help within the first few hours greatly increased the chance of survival and recovery.
But not all early warning signs are so obvious. In some men, a stroke can start with dizziness, balance problems, or trouble walking. This is especially true for strokes that affect the back part of the brain, which controls coordination.
A man may suddenly feel clumsy, stumble, or have trouble standing upright. A study in Neurology found that sudden dizziness or vertigo was a common early sign of stroke, particularly in older men, and often mistaken for a minor issue.
Vision changes are another warning sign. A stroke can cause sudden blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes. Some men may describe it as a dark curtain falling over their vision. This can happen if the stroke affects the part of the brain that controls sight. These symptoms can come and go quickly, but they still need immediate medical attention.
Confusion and trouble understanding others can also signal a stroke. A man might seem suddenly disoriented, forget where he is, or not understand simple instructions. In some cases, stroke affects the brain’s ability to process language, so the person may speak nonsense or not realize that their words don’t make sense.
A review in The Lancet Neurologyexplained that language problems, also known as aphasia, are a common early sign in left-brain strokes, which are more frequently noticed in men due to differences in how symptoms are reported.
Some men experience a severe headache that comes on suddenly, with no clear cause. This can be a sign of a bleeding stroke, especially if it’s accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Though headaches are more common as a stroke symptom in women, they still appear in men—especially in those who have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke.
Men may also feel very tired, confused, or have trouble swallowing. These signs are often dismissed, but they can point to brain damage caused by reduced blood flow. According to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association, fatigue and mental fog in men were early signs in strokes that were not initially recognized, which led to delays in treatment.
In conclusion, the early warning signs of a stroke in men include sudden weakness, speech problems, vision changes, loss of balance, confusion, and in some cases, severe headache. These symptoms may appear alone or together, but even one of them is enough to call for emergency help. Acting fast can protect the brain and reduce long-term damage.
Understanding these warning signs is an important step in protecting the health of fathers, brothers, sons, and friends. Every second counts when it comes to stroke, and early action can make all the difference.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
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