LONDON — An inability to read was the sole symptom a Scottish man experienced before being diagnosed with a stroke, highlighting the importance of recognizing atypical warning signs of the potentially life-threatening condition. The case underscores how strokes can manifest in unexpected ways, challenging conventional understanding of the illness and potentially delaying critical medical intervention.
Gordon Robb, 63, was gardening in September when he began experiencing a strange symptom: words appeared as if written in a foreign language, despite his vision remaining clear. He felt no weakness in his limbs, had no facial drooping, and experienced no speech difficulties – the typical indicators most people associate with a stroke.
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Initially, Robb attributed the issue to fatigue after a sleepless night. However, when he found himself unable to decipher instructions on a bank machine the following day, he sought medical attention. A relative, whose spouse had recently died from a stroke, urged him to move to the emergency room. Doctors discovered Robb had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke – a type caused by bleeding in the brain.
A Rare Symptom
The isolated inability to recognize written words is a particularly rare symptom, affecting less than one percent of stroke patients at the onset of the event, according to experts. Most people associate strokes with the FAST acronym – Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call for support.
(Zdroj: Getty Images)
Approximately 100,000 people in the United Kingdom suffer a stroke each year, making it a leading cause of death and long-term disability. Robb’s stroke was hemorrhagic, occurring when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, damaging surrounding tissue, rather than the more common ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot.
Ignoring Unusual Symptoms Can Be Dangerous
“I felt like a fraud in the stroke ward because I felt completely normal apart from not being able to read,” Robb admitted. He emphasized that overlooking unusual symptoms can be perilous, stating that without swift treatment, he would have been walking around with a “ticking time bomb in my head.”
Robb’s condition is improving, though he now finds reading slower and occasionally struggles to find the right words during conversations. He is now participating in a clinical trial funded by the British Heart Foundation, investigating whether blood-thinning medications – such as clopidogrel or aspirin – can prevent future strokes or heart attacks in patients who have experienced a hemorrhagic stroke. Early research suggests these medications may be safe for this purpose.
Be Aware of These Warning Signs
Experts stress that strokes don’t always present with textbook symptoms. Sudden vision loss, severe headache, dizziness, numbness on one side of the body, or difficulty swallowing can also be warning signs. “If you feel that something unusual is happening to your body, seek help – minutes count when it comes to stroke,” doctors warn.
Robb considers himself fortunate, not only because his symptoms are not severe but also because he can share his story to raise awareness of less-known stroke indicators, which impact thousands of lives annually.
