A stroke occurs when an area of the brain
is deprived of blood flow or oxygen. The
cells in that area of the brain begin to die,
and it can affect many different areas of
the body. Strokes can come in varying
levels of severity, from temporary
numbness to paralysis, but all of them
need to be treated as an emergency.
Strokes are the third leading cause of
death in the United States and the leading
cause of long-term disability. Although
strokes are more common for those over
the age of 65, a quarter of the strokes
recorded have occurred in those who were
younger. A stroke can happen to anyone,
and it is important to know the signs and
be prepared. It could mean saving your life
or the life of someone you care about.
BE FAST: The best way to recognize a
stroke
There are five symptoms that somebody is
having a stroke would display. If you or a
loved one experiences one or more of
these symptoms, it is important to get
medical assistance quickly. These
symptoms are set to the acronym, BE
FAST, to help you remember them if you
suspect trouble.
1 – B – Balance
Someone who has experienced a stroke will
have a sudden loss of balance or
coordination. Simple tasks like touching a
finger to one’s nose will be impossible.
Balance is so severely affected after a
stroke that 40 per cent of stroke sufferers
will experience a serious fall within the first
year following the event.
2 – E – Eyes
Vision will be dramatically affected by a
stroke. A person may experience sudden
vision changes, double vision, or may even
go blind in one eye. About two thirds of
those who suffer a stroke will have vision
problems; however, vision should improve
as the brain repairs itself.
3 – F – Face
Many people will feel numbness in the
face, or their face may droop as they are
experiencing a stroke. Look for an uneven
smile or an eye that appears sleepier than
the other.
4 – A – Arm
During a stroke, it is common to feel
weakness in an arm. A person will also not
be able to raise both arms to equal heights,
or may not move one arm at all.
Hemiparesis, or weakness in one side of
the body, is commonly experienced by
survivors of a stroke. They will often have
to participate in physical therapy.
5 – S – Speech
If someone is having a stroke, he or she
will not be able to speak clearly. Speech
will be slurred and difficult to understand.
After a stroke, some survivors may even
experience aphasia. Aphasia is where the
brain is no longer able to understand
spoken or written words; it is also difficult
for the person with aphasia to choose the
correct words for what they are thinking.
These issues can only be fixed through
speech therapy.
6 – T – Time (Not a symptom, but
warning!)
Time is critical. If someone is suffering a
stroke, please quickly move the person in a
car to the nearest hospital. If a stroke has
occurred, is it also important to record
when symptoms started and to share this
information with the healthcare
professionals.
All this information can help a person who
is suffering a stroke, but we obviously want
to make sure that never happens. Even
those who survive a stroke may have to
deal with medical problems in the future.
