Stroke doesn't always happen completely suddenly. In many cases, the body has already sent out warning signals beforehand, especially transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Stroke symptoms can appear at night, when the body is at rest, making it easy for patients to overlook or ignore them. Therefore, when unusual neurological symptoms appear at night, sufferers should not take them lightly, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
Severe dizziness, unsteadiness, or staggering upon waking at night can be warning signs of an impending stroke.
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Here are some signs that may appear at night and could be warning signs of an impending stroke:
Weakness or numbness on one side of the body while lying down.
If you are resting or sleeping and suddenly experience numbness, weakness, or loss of strength in one arm, leg, or half of your face, but these symptoms only last a few minutes and then disappear on their own, you should be especially vigilant. This is a typical sign of transient ischemic attack (TIA).
According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a medical emergency because about one-third of people who experience a TIA will have a full-blown stroke. Approximately 5-10% of those strokes occur within 48 hours to 7 days afterward. However, because it only lasts a few minutes and then resolves on its own, many people mistake it for numbness in the arm caused by poor posture.
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Unusually severe headache during the night.
If you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night with a severe, sudden headache, it could be a dangerous sign of a stroke. This sudden, intense headache can be caused by cerebrovascular events, particularly hemorrhagic stroke. The pain usually comes on quickly, peaking within seconds or minutes, and may be accompanied by nausea or neck stiffness.
This is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain or a sudden increase in intracranial pressure, which strongly stimulates nerve structures.
Blurred vision, transient loss of vision upon waking.
Another sign to watch out for is sudden blurred vision or loss of vision in one eye upon waking up startled at night. This is transient vision loss, a common symptom of a TIA. The patient may feel as if there is a veil covering their vision, but their vision returns to normal after a few minutes.
This is caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow to the retina, or the area of the brain that processes vision. Although recovery is quick, this is still a warning sign of a more serious risk of blood clots.
Severe dizziness upon waking up.
Mild dizziness can be caused by many benign reasons. However, if you suddenly experience severe dizziness, difficulty standing, or staggering when waking up at night, you should be especially vigilant.
Strokes in the cerebellum or brainstem often manifest as loss of balance and dizziness. Unlike ordinary dizziness, this condition usually appears very suddenly and may be accompanied by nausea, double vision, or difficulty coordinating movements. This is because blood flow to the brain's balance control region is reduced, directly affecting the body's ability to maintain stability, according to Healthline.