José Biller, MD
According to the CDC, about 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke every year.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of long-term disability.
With stroke, time lost when trying to get treatment equals lost brain cells.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a "brain attack" that can happen in one of two ways:
- One type of stroke is caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke)
- The other is caused by a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke)
Symptoms of a stroke may last only 15 to 20 minutes, but that doesn't mean the danger has passed. Call 911 and get to the hospital immediately if you experience these symptoms:
- Sudden onset of severe headache
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden vertigo, dizziness or loss of balance
- Double vision
People can also suffer mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks) before they have a full stroke. Symptoms of mini-strokes can last just a few minutes, but they should be promptly evaluated.
F.A.S.T. action is crucial to quickly identify the signs of stroke.
What is F.A.S.T.?
A simple way to remember the signs of a stroke is to think of the word "FAST"
- Face = Is one side of your face drifting downward?
- Arms = Is one of your arms falling lower?
- Speech = Does your speech sound slurred or not normal?
- Time = Time is crucial. If you have any of these signs, call 911 immediately.