Monday, October 13, 2014

F.A.S.T.


A stroke can be caused either by a blood clot or a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.

The sooner treatment is started, the less chance there is for serious damage and permanent disability. Time is of the essence – every minute counts.

To help spot the symptoms of a stroke remember F.A.S.T.

F Face drooping: does one side of the face droop, or feel numb? Ask the person to smile – if the smile is uneven, it may be a symptom of a stroke.

A Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drift downward, it may be a symptom of a stroke.

S Speech: Is speech slurred. Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

T Time to call 911: if any of these symptoms occur, call 911 immediately. Check the time so you will know when the first symptoms appeared. There are medications that may improve the chances of recovery, but they must be given within a certain period of time.

A person having a stroke could also experience confusion, trouble seeing, dizziness ore difficulty walking. Don’t ignore the warning signs – better safe than sorry! Every minute counts.

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