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<\/p>\nDoctor Sandra Lee, best known for her hit show Dr. Pimple Popper, was filming her series when she suffered a stroke. The beloved doctor is now sharing her story and urging others to pay attention to warning signs that can lead to the same condition.<\/p>\n
Dr. Lee explained that she was in the middle of seeing patients at her dermatology practice in Upland, California in November 2025 when she could sense something was off. However, when she experienced what felt like a hot flash, she brushed it off, convincing herself it was due to menopause. And this is exactly why it is important for women to hear her story. Going through menopause, most women experience these hot flashes, and that is the reason why Dr. Lee didn\u2019t think she experienced anything serious at first.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had what I thought was a hot flash,\u201d Dr. Lee told People in an interview. \u201cI got super sweaty and didn\u2019t feel like myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once the filming was over, she went to her parents\u2019 home, and that\u2019s when she started experiencing more symptoms. She felt very restless and her condition began to worsen. \u201cIn one leg, I kept feeling shooting pains,\u201d she said. \u201cI noticed that I was having a tough time walking down the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
By the following morning, there was no doubt she experienced a stroke.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hold my hand out, and it would just slowly collapse. I noticed that I had a tough time articulating and just enunciating. I thought, \u2018Am I having a stroke?\u2019\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n
Her father, a dermatologist as well, urged her to head to the emergency room. An MRI confirmed an ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is obstructed, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain cells. Dr. Pimple Popper<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a shock. As a physician I couldn\u2019t deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, \u2018Well, this is a dream, right?\u201d\u2018 she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat essentially happened is I had a part of my brain that died,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The frightening episode forced her to step away from filming and focus on recovery, including physical therapy to rebuild her strength and coordination.<\/p>\n
Although it happened nearly a year and a half ago, she says she is still deeply impacted by the effects of the stroke, something that was clear during her interview with People.<\/p>\n
\u201cI notice it right now that I don\u2019t speak exactly the way I used to,\u201d she said. \u201cYou\u2019re really embarrassed to speak because you notice it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking back, she now recognizes the risk factors that may have contributed to her stroke. \u201cMy blood pressure and my cholesterol were not under control, and I have a lot of stress in my life, dealing with my patients and the show,\u201d she explained, adding that the experience also shifted her perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to think about it as a blessing in disguise. Because it reminds you to take better care of yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
What we should all be aware of is that knowing the signs can help save our life or that of others.<\/p>\n
The American Heart Association reports that stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that women account for around 60% of all stroke-related deaths.<\/p>\n
The reasons behind this are not simple. Experts explain that women may often experience symptoms that appear mild or easy to overlook, especially during busy daily routines. As a result, important warning signs can be missed, delaying urgent treatment when every second matters.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Standard Warning Signs
\nWhether you\u2019re a man or a woman, the classic red flags usually follow the F.A.S.T. acronym:<\/p>\n
Face drooping
\nArm weakness
\nSpeech difficulty
\nTime to call 911
\nOther common \u201cbig\u201d signs include sudden vision trouble or losing your balance and coordination out of nowhere.<\/p>\n
Why It\u2019s Different for Women
\nIt is at this stage when the diagnosis gets more complex. While medical books always highlight the \u201cclassic\u201d symptoms of stroke, physicians are now realizing that women tend to be exceptions and suffer from \u201catypical\u201d symptoms. It goes without saying that those symptoms are not only distinct but rather quite \u201cmild\u201d, hence being easily overlooked and dismissed as nothing but daily stress, regular flu, or simple exhaustion.<\/p>\n
What adds an extra level of uncertainty is the fact that patients, even health care providers such as Dr. Lee, might feel like waiting before doing anything about their condition. This problem is best explained by Dr. Pooja Khatri, a professor of neurology at the University of Cincinnati: \u201dWomen more frequently have atypical, vague symptoms. They might start with fatigue, confusion or maybe general weakness, as opposed to weakness on one side of the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
These symptoms can be deceptive because, unlike something as obvious as one-sided paralysis, they don\u2019t always appear alarming at first. There\u2019s often nothing dramatic enough to immediately signal that something serious is happening. As a result, someone experiencing sudden mental fog or extreme fatigue might assume it\u2019s just exhaustion and decide to \u201crest for a while\u201d instead of seeking urgent medical help.<\/p>\n
In stroke care, time is critical\u2014often described as \u201ctime is brain\u201d\u2014and even small delays in treatment can lead to permanent damage.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
5 Signs Every Woman Should Have on Her Radar
\nFatigue: It\u2019s not \u201ctired from lack of sleep\u201d fatigue; rather, it is sudden and intense fatigue.<\/p>\n
Weakness: It may come in the form of typical symptoms like numbness in one arm, but it may also feel like being totally drained physically.<\/p>\n
Confusion or Speech Issues: Suddenly feeling confused or having difficulty forming simple thoughts and speaking.<\/p>\n
Unusual Pain or Numbness: Particularly if the sensations are one-sided. Severe pain should always be taken seriously.<\/p>\n
Dizziness or Loss of Balance: Feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or losing coordination when walking.<\/p>\n
Having suffered from a stroke herself, Sandra Lee has been extremely open about the long process of her recovery and its emotional impact on her. Her story resonates with us because we all know people who have suffered from a stroke: our mothers, our friends, our neighbors.<\/p>\n
The trouble is that these warning signs can be easily dismissed until they amount to everything. Sandra Lee\u2019s message is simple: Trust your instincts. If you feel like something is not right but cannot figure out why, do not hesitate to get medical help. This is not an overreaction; it might save your life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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