One of the most common medical malpractice cases is the failure to diagnose a stroke. Stroke is usually divided up into hemorrhagic, which generally accounts for 20% of strokes and ischemic, which accounts for approximately 80% of strokes. According to Healthline, ischemic strokes are more common, and they are akin to someone having a heart attack of the brain. There is a blockage of a blood vessel with a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain tissue, and that brain tissue then dies.
Hemorrhagic strokes are less common but are much more severe. They are usually present with a severe headache, though they can also have focal neurologic deficits, such a weakness, numbness, and difficulty in speaking. Ischemic strokes can have headaches but also can be painless. According to Mayo Clinic, someone could have a neurologic deficit such as weakness and not have any pain.
There are quite a few symptoms that present with stroke, whether it is hemorrhagic that comes with severe headache or ischemic stroke where you might have a weakness. There are so many diseases out there that can give you weakness, generalized numbness, tingling and things like that. You may want to err on the side of caution. You should reach out to a doctor because you never know what could be causing that numbness and tingling, especially if it is on one side of the body or slurred speech. Stroke is the number one most preventable disease out there, but it is the number one cause of disability. If a doctor fails to diagnose a stroke, he or she may face a medical malpractice case.
