Is This Stress or a Stroke?

 

Are you stressed out? Is your head throbbing, and you just don’t feel right? Worried you’re having a stroke? You’re probably not.

Anxiety, migraines, blood sugar changes, and lots of other things can make you feel weak and funny -- and they’re much more likely.

But to see a doctor right away if any of these suddenly happen to you (warning signs):

• A terrible headache, worse than you’ve ever had before
• Weakness on one side of your body
• Trouble walking, talking, or understanding things
• Vision loss in one or both eyes

What Else It Could Be

Take a deep breath and try not to worry if you’re feeling off. A lot of things can mimic stroke symptoms.

Stress is one of them. “Everybody’s body deals with it differently,” an American professor says. He’s treated people who’ve had changes in their vision and speech that were actually caused by stress and anxiety.

Or, it could be:

Migraine headaches. Migraines can look like a stroke. They can affect your vision and make you feel weak. If you have migraines, you have a higher risk of having a stroke, so watch your symptoms closely.

High blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, it can cause headaches, feelings of weakness, and vision problems. It’s also a major risk factor for stroke. For most people, normal blood pressure is a top number of 120 or less and a bottom number of 80 or less.

Anxiety. It could make you feel numb around the mouth or fingertips.

Changes in blood sugar. Too little or too much can cause vision problems, especially if you have diabetes and aren’t taking your medication, like insulin, or if you took too much. It could also cause you to feel confused, similar to a stroke.

Stroke Symptoms to Watch For

An easy way to recognize the warning signs of stroke is to think F.A.S.T.

Watch Now

• F - Face. Can you, or the person having the symptoms, smile Does one side of the face droop
• A - Arms. Can you, or the person having the symptoms, raise both arms Does one drift downward
• S - Speech. Can you, or the person having the symptoms, repeat a single phase Is the speech slurred or strange
• T - Time. If you see any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.