Stats on Strokes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Internet Stroke Center, stroke is the third leading
\ncause of death in the United States. More than 140,000 people die each
\nyear from stroke in the United States. Stroke is the leading cause of
\nserious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year,
\napproximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Stroke?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood supply of the brain.
\nBecause stroke occurs rapidly and requires immediate treatment, stroke
\nis also called a brain attack. The effects of a stroke depend on which
\npart of the brain is injured, and how severely it is injured. Strokes
\nmay cause sudden weakness, loss of sensation, or difficulty with
\nspeaking, seeing, or walking. Since different parts of the brain
\ncontrol different areas and functions, it is usually the area
\nimmediately surrounding the stroke that is affected. Sometimes people
\nwith stroke have a headache, but stroke can also be completely
\npainless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The FAST Way to Remember<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When
\nyou can spot the signs, you\u2019ll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for
\nhelp right away. F.A.S.T. is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

F is for Face Drooping \u2013 Does one side of the face droop or is it
\nnumb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person\u2019s smile uneven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A is for Arm Weakness \u2013 Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to
\nraise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S is for Speech Difficulty \u2013 Is speech slurred? Is the person unable
\nto speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple
\nsentence, like \u201cThe sky is blue.\u201d Is the sentence repeated correctly?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T is for Time to call 9-1-1 \u2013 If someone shows any of these symptoms,
\neven if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the
\nhospital immediately. Check the time so you\u2019ll know when the first
\nsymptoms appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know the Signs of Stroke<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

F.A.S.T. provides an easy way to help you remember, because knowing
\nthe warning signs of stroke and controlling stroke\u2019s risk factors can
\nlower your risk of death or disability. If you suffer a stroke, you
\nmay not realize it at first. The people around you might not know it,
\neither. Your family, friends, or neighbors may think you are unaware
\nor confused. You may not be able to call 911 on your own. That\u2019s why
\neveryone should know the signs of stroke and know how to act fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warning signs are clues your body sends to tell you that your brain is
\nnot receiving enough oxygen. The most common sign of stroke is sudden
\nweakness of the face, arm or leg, most often on one side of the body.
\nOther signs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on
\none side of the body
\n\u2022sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
\n\u2022sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
\n\u2022sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
\n\u2022sudden severe headache with no known cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other danger signs that may occur include double vision, drowsiness,
\nand nausea or vomiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It\u2019s Important To Act Fast<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stroke is a medical emergency. Every minute counts when someone is
\nhaving a stroke. The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the
\ngreater the damage. Immediate treatment can save people\u2019s lives and
\nenhance their chances for successful recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ischemic strokes, the most common type of strokes, can be treated with
\na drug called t-PA that dissolves blood clots obstructing blood flow
\nto the brain. The window of opportunity to start treating stroke
\npatients is three hours, but to be evaluated and receive treatment,
\npatients need to get to the hospital within 60 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Should You Do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t wait for the symptoms of stroke to improve or worsen. If you
\nbelieve you are having a stroke, call 911 immediately. Making the
\ndecision to call for medical help can make the difference in avoiding
\na lifelong disability and in greatly improving your chances for
\nrecovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you observe someone having a stroke \u2013 if he or she suddenly loses
\nthe ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or
\nexperiences facial paralysis on one side \u2013 call 911 immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stats on Strokes: According to the Internet Stroke Center, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 140,000 people die each year from stroke in the United States. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. Each year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\n