Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability.
A stroke occurs when there is a blockage in a blood vessel in the brain. These blood vessels carry blood, oxygen, and nutrients that are essential for cells to survive.
When a stroke occurs, the cells stop receiving blood and die.
Depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs, many signs and symptoms may be seen. Patients may experience numbness and weakness on one side. This may include the face or arm and leg as well.
Patients may also have aphasia, or the inability to speak or understand language as usual. They may become completely silent and not be able to understand what you are asking of them.
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Their words might come out naturally, but they don’t make sense. They may have slurred speech that makes it difficult to understand.
Some people who have strokes may have difficulty moving their eyes properly, or have double vision or vision loss. Strokes can also affect a person’s ability to balance several things, causing dizziness or nausea.
Some stroke symptoms can be very subtle, so people may tend to ignore them. It is very important not to ignore any of these signs, as they can progress and become worse if left untreated.
If you find yourself or a loved one experiencing any signs or symptoms of a stroke, you should call 911 immediately. There are different treatments for different types of stroke, but they work best when you bring the patient to the emergency department as soon as symptoms begin, if possible.
The longer the patient remains without blood flow to parts of the brain, the greater the damage.
Some of the risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and untreated or unknown atrial fibrillation. Making sure you take your daily medication for these disorders is critical to stroke prevention.
Also, it is very important to ensure that none of these disorders develop. Staying active, eating right, avoiding drugs and tobacco, and having a normal follow-up with your doctor are ways you can stay healthy.
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You can help prevent stroke damage by remembering a simple shortcut and acting fast
- And – sagging face
- A- Arm weakness
- s – difficulty speaking
- T – Time to call 911
Remember, not all strokes are covered by FAST, so if you are concerned about any symptoms that may resemble a stroke, it is best to call 911.
Caitlin Blackburn, DO, is a physician at UPMC Hamot Hospital and a neurological rehabilitation physician.