Roughly every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. People of all ages are vulnerable, despite seemingly good health. In fact, the risk of stroke is increasing faster in individuals ages 30-45 than in any other age group.
What are the symptoms of a stroke? Symptoms of stroke include:
Sudden, severe headache with an unknown cause
Sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, on one side of the body
Sudden dimness or visual loss, particularly in one eye
Approximately 1 in 5 Americans has a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and many don't know until after a stroke occurs. All people are born with flap-like openings in their hearts and the opening usually closes by itself shortly after birth. In some people, an open flap remains in the heart. This opening can allow a blood clot to travel through the flap and to the brain, causing a stroke. (stroke.org)
