Although a stroke can happen suddenly, with no warning signs, there may be physical changes that take place before a stroke occurs. If you have had a stroke or are at a higher risk for having a stroke, knowing these signs can help speed your diagnosis and treatment, which can help quicken your recovery. Women have reported have a stroke following suffering from some of the more serious Nuvaring side effects.
The best way to prevent a stroke is to lessen your risk factors as much as possible. Maintaining good health, including controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and weight will help. Certain medications may affect your risk of strokes. NuvaRing birth control, for example, have been associated with an increase in blood clots, which can lead to strokes.
Recognizing Blood Clots
Strokes are often caused when blood clots travel through the bloodstream to the brain, usually from the upper or lower leg, and block a blood vessel. Preventing, recognizing and treating blood clots are the next line of defense to decrease the risk of a stroke.
Although some people do not have signs of blood clots, others do. If you have had deep vein thrombosis, be extra diligent in noticing any abnormalities. Blood clots may cause the area to feel warm or weak. The area may look red, or conversely, the leg itself may look pale compared to the other one. The leg may feel weak, or look swollen.
Doctors can give medication that helps slow down the formation of the clot and keep it from traveling upward through the body.
Warning Strokes
Occasionally, a person will have what is called a warning stroke. This transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery, but only for a few minutes. The person may feel classic stroke symptoms momentarily, but afterward, there is no lasting damage.
A TIA is an important predictor of an impending stroke. More than 33% of the people who have a TIA will have a stroke, half within the first year of a TIA. A TIA should be treated with the same urgency as a classic stroke. Call 9-1-1 immediately if someone has the following symptoms:
• Sudden weakness, especially on one side
• Sudden confusion
• Sudden blurred vision
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden dizziness.
Early Treatment
When treated promptly, doctors may administer strong clot busting medicines, like tPA (tissues plasminogen activator). This drug helps break up clots quickly, restoring the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, which minimizes damage done by the stroke. In order to be effective, tPA must be administered within three hours of the first stroke symptoms. In addition, tPA may cause excessive bleeding, so it is only used in extreme medical situations. If you have have suffered from NuvaRing side effects including blood clots, TIA or a stroke, you may have important legal options.
Author Resource:
Mark Johnson is author of this article on Nuvaring Lawyer .
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