In treating stroke, speed is critical. By knowing the warning signs of stroke you can help yourself and the people with whom you interact get the brain-saving care they need: FAST.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Blood supply may be interrupted when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). Ischemic strokes account for about 87 percent of all strokes. When brain cells are deprived of oxygen-rich blood they die, causing injury to the brain. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of adult disability.
“There is a limited window of opportunity to reverse the damage from an acute stroke,” explains Dr. Vinod Krishnan, a neurologist with St. Elizabeth Physicians. “The longer you wait, the less likely you are to be eligible for clot busting therapy to reverse the deficits related to the stroke.”
A medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can improve a person’s chances of recovering from a stroke, but the clot-dissolving medication must be administered within three hours of symptom onset.
Stroke symptoms come on suddenly and can include trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dizziness, a severe headache, loss of balance or coordination, and trouble walking. The National Stroke Association’s FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a simple pneumonic device for identifying and responding to the most common signs of stroke:
- Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
“Getting to the hospital in a timely fashion is predicated in the prompt recognition of stroke symptoms,” says Dr. Krishnan. “By understanding the typical presentations of stroke, an individual can increase the probability of getting appropriate time-based care.”