Stroke Symptoms
THINK YOU ARE HAVING A STROKE? CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away.
F.A.S.T. is:
Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
What is a Stroke?
When the brain’s blood flow is stopped by a blockage or leaks into the wrong place, brain cells die. This is called a stroke. Brain cells that die will not recover (resulting in permanent brain damage). Other brain cells are in shock and will start working again after a while. No one can tell just how long it will take for these cells to begin working again. Most healing happens in the first year, but people may improve their skills for much longer.
take a stroke health risk assessment
Disability from stroke can take many forms depending on the area of the brain that is damaged. The stroke’s effect may be slight and temporary or it may be serious, even fatal. A typical stroke survivor may not be able to use his or her right or left side of the body, or may have communication problems such as not being able to speak or read. Every stroke is different.