Identifying a Stroke

 

Do You Know the Warning Signs?

Nearly 800,000 Americans have strokes every year. However, studies show most Americans don't know how to recognize five established warning signs that indicate when someone is having a stroke.

A stroke is when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain either bursts or is blocked by a clot, thus depriving the brain of oxygen. According to the American Stroke Association, more than 137,000 people die each year from stroke--on average, that's one person every four minutes. Risk factors include age and heredity, as well as artery disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking,

Five Warning Signs

The best treatment for stroke is the drug "tissue plasminogen activator" (tPA), but it must be administered within three hours from the first symptoms of the stroke to be most effective. To help ensure the quick recognition of a stroke, familiarize yourself with these five established warning signs:

--Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body.

--Sudden trouble walking and loss of balance.

--Sudden confusion and difficulty speaking.

--Severe headache with no obvious cause.

--Vision troubles from one or both eyes.

Someone suffering a stroke may not show all five symptoms simultaneously, but if any of these conditions are present, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Call 9-1-1 and also record the time that the symptoms first presented. Being aware of the warning signs and being prepared to respond to them quickly could be the difference between life and death for you or someone you love.