National Stroke Awareness Month: A Closer Look At Causes And Symptoms

May 2021 is National Stroke Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to learn about the risk factors for stroke, and how you can take steps to reduce your chances of suffering a potentially fatal event. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 795,000 people experience a stroke every year nationwide, and one person dies from stroke every 4 minutes. Approximately 1 in 4 individuals have had a previous stroke, which highlights one key goal of this month-long stroke awareness event: Recognizing key risk factors and causes.

It is essential to work closely with your doctor regarding concerns and questions. However, because stroke misdiagnosis remains a serious problem among Florida health care providers, patients must also be vigilant and proactive about their risk for stroke. You can be your own best advocate when you are properly armed with some crucial information about stroke causes and symptoms.

Data on Stroke Risk Factors and Causes

 It is important to be aware of the causes of stroke, and to understand your own level of potential risk:

• Studies show that some risks of stroke are related to race and ethnicity. Black individuals have the highest fatality rate, though studies show that the threat has increased among Hispanics since 2013.
• Age plays a role in stroke risk, since less than one-third of people who were hospitalized for stroke are under 65 years old.
• Lifestyle changes are among the best stroke prevention strategies. Hypertension, smoking, obesity, and diabetes put individuals at high risk of stroke.
• Stroke is fatal for twice as many women as breast cancer, ranking third as the leading cause of death among women.

Overlooked Symptoms and Failure to Diagnose Stroke 

An ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke can occur at any time regardless of risk factors, so knowing the signs is crucial. A person suffering stroke may exhibit:

• Weakness in muscles on one side of the body
• Problems with speech and vision
• Confusion, dizziness, and loss of balance
• Severe, sudden headaches

These symptoms may present in connection with other medical issues, which is why stroke can be misdiagnosed. A health care provider may overlook the significance of your stroke symptoms, or attribute them to some other medical issue. For a patient, a failure to diagnose stroke can be devastating. Not only are you at risk of serious health issues, but you are more likely to go through the experience again if you do not receive proper care.

Florida law allows patients to recover compensation when medical negligence, such as stroke misdiagnosis, causes harm. In certain situations, you may be eligible to obtain monetary damages for your losses, including costs of treatment, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. 

Discuss Stroke Misdiagnosis with a Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyer 

Though you should trust your health care providers for medical care, there are circumstances where you may need to pursue legal action for stroke malpractice. Our Miami failure to diagnose stroke lawyers at Freidin Brown, P.A. can explain your rights, so please contact our offices to set up a free consultation. We can provide personalized advice after reviewing the details of your case.

Resource:

cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm