• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Doctor warns of the ‘biggest myth’ around strokes as she shares the key symptoms

Home> News> Health

Published 20:20 3 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Doctor warns of the ‘biggest myth’ around strokes as she shares the key symptoms

Dr Carolyn Brockington explained what to look out for if you suspect you may be having a stroke

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

A doctor has detailed the signs you should be looking out for to see whether you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke, while also debunking a common misconception around the condition.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a stroke, while every three minutes and 11 seconds an American dies due to it, according to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While the government agency also states that one in six people in America that die from cardiovascular disease - which is the number one leading cause of death worldwide - do so due to a stroke.

Advert

Now, Dr Carolyn Brockington, director of the stroke center at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City, has touched on the topic during national stroke month, while speaking with Today on Thursday.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a stroke, you must act fast (Getty stock)
If you or someone you know is suffering from a stroke, you must act fast (Getty stock)

What are the signs of a stroke?

The CDC explain that there are a number of symptoms of a stroke which include sudden numbness to the face, arm, leg or on one side of the body; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; suffer from a sudden, yet severe, headache with no known cause.

Advert

If you suddenly experience trouble speaking or understanding speech, as well as sudden trouble walking, loss of balance or dizziness, then you are urged to act fast by calling 911 if you or someone else has any of the above symptoms.

What is the ‘biggest myth’ about strokes?

The vascular neurologist continued: "I think one of the biggest myths of stroke is that people think, 'oh, it only happens if you get older, if I'm not old you don't have to worry about it'. But anyone can have a stroke."

"Incidents of stroke does increase as you get older, but just because you're young doesn't mean that you're protected. So, we want people to know that strokes are preventable."

How do you prevent a stroke?

According to a Stamford Health 2023 paper, roughly 800,000 people in the US suffer strokes every year - with 15 percent of those affecting people between the ages of 18 and 50.

Advert

The CDC says in order to prevent a stroke maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key and that you should seek medical assistance to take steps to lower your risk.

No smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating the right foods, keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum and checking your cholesterol are also steps towards prevention.

Heart attack versus stroke

Brockington explained: "I think sometimes there's a lot of confusion between what's a heart attack versus what a stroke is and people think maybe they're the same. But they're not. Both are caused by not enough blood or interruption of blood flow.

Advert

"But a heart attack is when you don't get enough blood to the heart. So you might get chest pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, problems with the arms, sometimes pain to the left side.

"Stroke, or sometimes they say brain attack, is not enough blood flow to the brain, so depending on the symptoms happen suddenly, almost like a light switch going off, right? And suddenly you have the symptoms."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Health, US News, Fitness

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane fights back tears as he discusses heartbreaking ALS diagnosis in first interview

    The actor previously portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan on the medical drama and starred as Jason Dean in Charmed

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    Two children left orphaned after dad dies in Air India crash on way home from fulfilling his late wife's 'final wish'

    The young girls' world has been 'turned upside down in just over two weeks'

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Two Democratic lawmakers and spouses shot in their homes as police issue shelter-in-place alert

    Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband have sadly died in the ordeal

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Expert shares three jobs young people should start training to do now to beat AI in the future

    A new report has shown a drastic rise in the use of AI in the workforce

    Technology
  • Doctor reveals the surprising truth behind the biggest myths surrounding vasectomies in men
  • Woman shares important message following stage four cancer diagnosis after her symptoms dismissed as anxiety
  • Doctor urges men to do this one simple exercise to improve their sex lives
  • Doctors issue urgent warning over 'golden dose' hack for Mounjaro as it could be fatal