Are Phantom Scents Telltale of Stroke? Expert Opinion.

Long held beliefs suggest that the scent of burnt toast, even when there’s none present, indicates an impending stroke. People frequently discuss this rumor on Reddit and it was even mentioned in a song written by comedian/musician Bo Burnham! People want to understand as much as possible about signs of stroke – which occurs when blood vessels leading directly into the brain become blocked or ruptured, rendering life-threatening emergency care unnecessary – before any major events take place in life. Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, according to Dr. Alhamza Al-Bayati, a neurointerventional surgeon from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Burned toast may be one of the leading causes of mortality in America, according to Dr. Erica Jones of University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Neurology. However, she advises people against solely focusing on that aspect. Jones explained that this purported symptom is “not real; it does not indicate imminent stroke. Dr. Linda Wendell, Chief of Neurology at Massachusetts’ Mount Auburn Hospital said she hadn’t previously heard the rumor; however, others in her life may have. However, Wendell pointed out that no evidence exists to corroborate phantom scent as an early indicator of stroke. Even so, experts remain uncertain where its source lies – although Jones offers one theory. “Phantom odors are more frequently experienced with seizures or epilepsy,” explained she, explaining it could also be misattributed as part of stroke symptoms due to being linked with another neurological condition. However, it would be highly unusual for this symptom to be associated with stroke. Even among seizures it remains uncommon. “According to Al-Bayati, phantom smells have also been associated with migraine. Therefore, if phantom smells are occurring frequently for you as well, speaking with your physician about them would likely help; but don’t be alarmed that this means your imminent stroke diagnosis! Instead of being distracted by toast burnt to perfection, doctors advise knowing the actual signs and risk factors for stroke, such as lifestyle factors or conditions that raise your chances.The Actual Warning Signs Of StrokeDoctors caution that any perception of ghost scent is groundless: there are distinct warning signs you must recognize as warnings of impending stroke that should not go ignored by you or loved ones. Dr Jones states that stroke is both preventable and treatable — with hospital visits within three to four hours being ideal to reverse its symptoms, according to her research. Arriving even faster would be ideal: according to Al-Bayati, each minute that passes causes stroke victims to lose two million neurons from their brains. Al-Bayati, Jones and Wendell all suggested an easy way to remember the signs of stroke is the acronym BE FAST: B for “balance issues”, E for “eyesight changes” such as vision loss or double vision changes and F for facial drooping on one side (numb face) followed by A for arm weakness if one arm weakens significantly? Can the two arms be raised symmetrically?S is for “speech difficulty”, is their language unclear or nonsensical? Are they unable to speak? Immediately seek medical assistance as this could indicate stroke. Al-Bayati noted that you won’t necessarily experience all symptoms associated with having a stroke – sometimes, just one or two may emerge, however. MoMo Productions via Getty Images To reduce your risk of stroke, seek medical help if high blood pressure occurs and keep a nutritious diet free from high levels of fat or cholesterol as well as sugary treats (Wendell). In order to lower your stroke risk, seek professional guidance if any symptoms such as these arise and consider following his advice about maintaining an overall healthier lifestyle with healthy habits such as not smoking and getting regular physical exercises as this will lower it further, Wendell says. Jones recommended eating lean proteins (such as chicken breast, lentils, beans, turkey tofu and fish) alongside fruits and vegetables to lower stroke risks. Regular cardiovascular exercise could have significant benefits. According to the American Heart Association, you should aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (such as brisk walking, dancing or water aerobics ) each week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity such as running laps in a pool or performing heavy yard work. Smoking increases your risk for stroke. “If you suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, make sure that you visit with your physician regularly and use the necessary medicines,” noted Wendell. If your cholesterol or blood pressure levels have not been assessed in recent times or you would like an assessment conducted then consult your GP today about getting one performed. Al-Bayati stated, “Stoke is truly a condition for all age groups; children and young adults may suffer stroke, while elderly populations also are vulnerable.” “Young adults often neglect going in for annual physicals or making regular doctor’s visits, yet this will do little good for their long-term health,” Jones cautions. Since many believe they feel fine without visiting a physician, some do not see an impetus to visit one regularly. “Plagued by symptoms that go undetected for many years, high blood pressure may still pose an invisible danger that you don’t even realize you have until its effects surface later on in your life. She continued, noting the frequency with which people come in after experiencing a stroke only to learn they also have high blood pressure, diabetes and/or other related health conditions that they hadn’t known about; many times this information comes to them for the first time despite already existing for some time before arriving here for care. But they didn’t realize, because they hadn’t visited a physician to assess it. “We Need Your SupportOther news outlets have fallen back behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we firmly believe in making journalism available and accessible for everyone. Can you help provide essential news coverage during this pivotal moment for our readers? 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Your contribution — whether one time only or on an ongoing basis – plays a pivotal role in keeping our journalism free for all. Already given? Log in now to hide these messages. It is crucially important that people become more informed of their health status so as to reduce risks such as stroke. “By being aware,” Jones advised, there could be steps taken in order to avert disaster should one occur.