A recent study by the National Stroke Association showed that 1 out of 3 Americans could not identify a single symptom of a person having a stroke. That is 33% of all people! What a dismal thought that if the person you loved were having a stroke, you might not even realize it and call for help. To help everyone know what to look for, the word needs to get out. It is vital that you recognize the symptoms and get help immediately.
First of all, the symptoms of a stroke come on suddenly. Note, the symptoms for men and women may be different and one symptom is not necessarily a stroke, but when combined with several of the others, it could be a good indication. So, consider the following symptoms for both men and women.
* Loss of balance and coordination, trouble walking and dizziness.
* Quick onslaught of a headache with no good reason.
* Face, arm or leg suddenly goes numb or weak.
* Unexplained sudden trouble speaking, understanding or confusion.
* Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
It is imperative for survival that a stroke victim be treated immediately. It becomes a matter of minutes making a difference as sometimes treatments that are most effective can only be administered in the first 3 hours after symptoms appear.
An acronym to help people recognize the symptoms of strokes is labeled as FAST. First Look at the Face. Check to see if the person can smile and note if the face droops on one side. Next, check the Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms and see if one of the arms droops downward. Then, you have the Speech. Have the victim repeat an easy sentence and listen for slurred speech and note if the sentence was repeated correctly. Lastly, is Time. If you note any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately or rush the person to the hospital immediately. Time is of the essence as the brain cells are dying as you wait.
By educating yourself and your loved ones on these symptoms, you could potentially be saving their lives or even your own. Take the time to memorize these symptoms and the FAST things to look for and it could be possible to reverse the stroke itself if treated soon enough.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.massagebyben.com/articles/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites 