Stroke: recognize the signs in 1 minute, every minute counts

November 7, 2026

At a family meal, Aunt Henriette puts down her fork. Her mouth droops, and her words come out jumbled. “She’s tired, let her rest.” This phrase costs precious hours. A stroke is an absolute emergency, just like a road accident.

What happens in the brain

The brain alone consumes about 20% of the body’s oxygen. It has no reserves. During a stroke, part of the brain no longer receives blood:

Ischemic stroke (about 8 out of 10 cases worldwide): a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: an artery ruptures and blood floods the brain. It is proportionally more common in Africa, often due to untreated high blood pressure.

Studies have estimated that a brain deprived of blood loses about 1.9 million neurons per minute. Treatments that unclog the artery are only effective in the first few hours.

Just one of these signs, appearing suddenly, is enough to suspect a stroke.

Other possible signs

Sudden loss of vision in one eye, double vision, very severe and unusual headache (“the worst of my life”), loss of balance, sudden dizziness, confusion. Even if the symptoms disappear within a few minutes, you must see a doctor that same day: it may be a transient ischemic attack, which often precedes a full stroke.

🚨 What not to do: wait for it to pass, give the person food or drink (they may choke), give aspirin (dangerous if it is a hemorrhage), try to lower their blood pressure yourself with tablets, or waste time with a traditional healer. Go directly to a hospital that can perform a CT scan if possible, and note the time the symptoms began.

Prevention: blood pressure first and foremost

High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke, followed by diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high cholesterol, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and certain heart conditions. Sickle cell anemia also puts children at risk of stroke.

✅ Protective measures: check your blood pressure regularly, take your medication every day, reduce salt and bouillon cubes, quit smoking, limit alcohol, exercise for 30 minutes a day, and monitor your blood sugar. After a stroke, rehabilitation (physical therapy, speech therapy) often helps people recover a great deal.

General information article written by the Mubina Essence team. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Have a question? Message us on WhatsApp.

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