Dr Oz Stroke: Symptoms Unique to Women, What to Do + Lower Your Risk

Dr Oz: What to Do If You Think You’re Having a Stroke

Dr. Oz explained that when it comes to having a stroke, the symptoms come on suddenly within seconds on minutes, and “time is brain”.

Dr. Oz said that as soon as you notice yourself having two or more stroke symptoms, you should alarm someone, call EMS, and say as clearly as possible “I think I’m having a stroke.” He said the more time that goes by, the more irreversible damage is done. It’s important to get help right away so you can be taken to the closest stroke center.

But do you know what symptoms to look for?

Dr Oz: Stroke Symptoms

Dr. Oz wants to make sure you know what to look for if you think you may be having a stroke. If you have two or more of the following symptoms, you should get help right away.

The first symptoms is numbness or weakness on one side of the body. For one woman, she was unable to move the entire left side of her body and collapsed to the ground and wasn’t able to get back up. She said she felt like her whole left side had cramped up, and it happened very quickly. Dr. Oz explained that numbness, weakness, and paralysis are all signs of a stroke.

Dr Oz: Trouble Speaking & Headache Signs of Stroke

One woman shared that when she thought something was wrong, she called her mom and her mother told her she was slurring her speech. She explained that she was unaware of how she was speaking. Dr. Oz explained that trouble speaking is another sign of stroke.

According to Dr. Oz, another stroke symptom is headache, but it’s not just any headache. A women who suffered a stroke shared that the headache she experienced was unlike any other she ever had. She said it felt like someone had stabbed her in the back of the neck and the pain traveled down her arm. Dr. Oz said if it’s really bad and came on suddenly, like the worst headache you ever felt, this could be a sign of a stroke.

Dr Oz: Vision Changes, Dizziness, Lack of Balance Stroke Symptoms

The next stroke symptoms that Dr. Oz talked about was vision changes such as blurriness and double vision. One woman shared that when she tried to look up her symptoms on the computer, she couldn’t even see the screen or the keyboard.

Dizziness or lack of balance are also signs of stroke. For one woman who suffered a stroke, she said she was getting out of her car, got a head rush that wouldn’t go away, and hit the ground.

Dr Oz: Stroke Symptoms Unique to Women

Dr. Oz shared four important stroke symptoms that are unique to women: pain on one side, exhaustion, nausea, and vomiting.

He explained that symptoms can come in different ways, but if you have two or more of them and they come on suddenly, you need to call 911. He stressed the importance of saying as clearly as possible “I think I’m having a stroke” so they can get the process started that could potentially save your life.

Dr Oz: Lower Your Stroke Risk

Dr. Oz shared things you can do to help prevent having a stroke.

The first is to know your blood pressure. He said a healthy blood pressure should be under 120/80. Next, he said just 20 minutes of walking per day can reduce your risk of having a stroke by 30%.