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May is National Stroke Awareness Month. In observance of this month, we at CarePro & Kelly’s wanted to walk you through the warning signs of a stroke. Being prepared can help you take quick action if a friend or loved one begins to exhibit signs or symptoms. According to the CDC, “Strokes kill nearly 150,000 of the 860,000 Americans who die of cardiovascular disease each year—that’s 1 in every 19 deaths from all causes.” 

Basic Signs of a Stroke 

A stroke can happen fast in one of two ways, either an ischemic stroke—when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or a hemorrhagic stroke—when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Every minute counts if you are experiencing a stroke. Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is experiencing any of these symptoms. You may feel one or a combination of these symptoms, do not hesitate to take fast action either way.  

Numbness 

You may experience severe numbness throughout your body, specifically the face, arms, and legs. Many who are experiencing a stroke may notice numbness on only one side of the body.  

Headaches 

Both men and women who are experiencing a stroke may have a headache with no known cause.  

Loss of Vision and Confusion  

A common sign of a stroke may be trouble seeing in one or both of your eyes, as well as sudden confusion about your surroundings. This may result in trouble speaking or understanding speech at all.  

Lack of Mobility 

Lack of mobility is a huge sign of a stroke. You may have trouble walking, dizziness, problems balancing, and/or lack of coordination.  

How to Act F.A.S.T. 

Stroke treatments that work the best are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the patient’s first symptoms. If able, take note of the timing of the start of each symptom to share it with medical providers as they determine the best treatment. Act F.A.S.T. with the simple test below to check for signs of a stroke: 

F- Face: Check the patient’s face. Does one side of their face droop?  

A- Arms: Check the patient’s range of motion. Does one of their arms drift downward? 

S- Speech: Check the patient’s speech. Do they have trouble understanding you, speaking, or slur their speech? 

T- Time: Have you noticed any of these signs? Time is crucial to getting them the best treatment, call 911 immediately.

If you or someone you know is showing any of these signs or symptoms, you may be experiencing a stroke. The key is to think fast and take action to get medical care for the best treatment. It is a great idea to talk with your doctor about the best ways to reduce your risk of having a stroke, as well as some ideas to implement into your lifestyle.