What You Should Know About Stroke

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Signs You May Be Having a Stroke

Any of these symptoms are considered a medical emergency. All appear quickly, which is an important indicator of stroke.

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

F.A.S.T Stroke Test
Treating stroke quickly means recognizing it quickly. Use this test if you suspect someone is having a stroke:

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are his or her words slurred?
Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Brain cells are dying so time is of the essence.

There are three types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke: A blood clot travels to the brain and lodges there, cutting off blood supply to fragile brain tissues. It is the most common type, accounting for about 85 percent of strokes.

Hemorrhagic stroke: A blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds in the brain. Although hemorrhagic strokes account for only 15 percent of all strokes, they cause 30 percent of deaths.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA): Brief episodes of symptoms that last from a few seconds to a full day. People who have had a TIA, or mini stroke, are much more likely to have a full-blown stroke in the following year.

Print stroke symptoms for anytime reference.