Warning Signs of Stroke

When blood flow to the brain is interrupted -- usually caused by a blood clot blocking an artery or a blood vessel breaking -- a stroke or “brain attack” occurs and brain cells begin to die.
When brain cells die during a stroke, speech, movement and memory can be lost. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. Someone suffering from a small stroke may experience weakness of an arm or leg but those who have larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side or become unable to speak. Depending on the type of stroke, some recover completely but many will have some type of disability.

According to the National Stroke Association common stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

This simple test will help you detect stroke symptoms and Act F.A.S.T.:
F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.