A doctor has revealed some early signs that could indicate a stroke is imminent. In the UK, a stroke occurs every five minutes, totalling approximately 100,000 cases annually.
It’s the fourth leading cause of death in the country, resulting in 38,000 deaths each year. Dr Eric Berg, who frequently shares health advice on social media, took to TikTok to highlight some symptoms that might be present in the days leading up to a stroke.
“There are three early warning signs of a stroke,” he said, emphasising that these are not the same as the symptoms of a stroke that has already begun – which include one side of the face drooping and inability to move one of your arms and legs.
“The early signs of a stroke are a little bit different,” he continued. “Since a stroke causes a blood clot to the brain, you’re going to get a lot of pressure build up in the brain.
“That is going to show up as a severe headache.”
Another early warning sign that a stroke could be imminent, according to Dr Berg, is extreme nausea or vomiting “if you get an obstruction on the certain part of the brain that affects the brain stem.”
Thirdly, persistent hiccups accompanied by chest pain can be a red flag indicating an impending stroke, according to the doctor.
Cardiac Screen UK also lists other warning signs such as loss of vision or changes to your vision, sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, feeling confused or having trouble understanding things, and numbness or weakness in one side of the body.
The health portal has highlighted that certain symptoms could be a precursor to a stroke, with some experts suggesting they may manifest up to a week before the event. However, for many, these warning signs might appear abruptly.
“The thing to know about a stroke is that it’s critical that you go to the emergency room within an hour,” Dr Berg emphasised. “They can give you certain medications that will dissolve the clot.”
He also stressed the importance of preventing stroke where possible, rather than cure.
“More importantly, to prevent a stroke, you want to consume enough Vitamin E as tocotrienols.”
He further advised taking magnesium and sticking to a low-carb diet. Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US indicates that each 100 mg/day increase in magnesium intake is linked to a two percent decrease in stroke risk.
Additionally, a meta-study by Cambridge University Press and Assessment found that a diet high in Vitamin E can slash stroke risk by an impressive 17% compared to those with lower Vitamin E consumption.
Vitamin E can be obtained through supplements or naturally in foods such as vegetable oils, nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts, and sunflower seeds, as well as fruits and vegetables including avocados, mangoes, kiwi fruit, spinach, broccoli, and red bell peppers. It’s also present in fortified foods like cereal and fruit juices.
Foods rich in magnesium encompass leafy green vegetables, avocado, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate.