Knowing the symptoms can save a life.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Roughly every three minutes, one of those people does not survive.
But of the nearly 800,000 Americans who will have a stroke this year, less than half will recognize the symptoms and even fewer will call 9-1-1 for emergency aid.
Many stroke survivors go on to say that they didn’t call 9-1-1 because they simply didn't feel the symptoms warranted an emergency call. But even if symptoms are relatively mild or seem to go away on their own, a stroke is always a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Every stroke is a race against time. Get a headstart by recognizing the signs and reacting quickly.
Know the Signs & Symptoms of Stroke
Strokes are caused by blood clots or hemorrhaging in the brain. And when blood vessels that carry blood to the brain are blocked or burst, this kills the part of the brain that is starved of the blood that it needs. This will produce one or more telltale signs of a stroke. Knowing them can save your life or the life of someone you love.
There's a simple way to remember the signs and symptoms of a stroke: Just think “BE FAST!”
- B — Balance is suddenly off
- E — Eyes, one or both may lose vision suddenly
- F — Face looks uneven; one side droops
- A — An arm or leg is weak on one side
- S — Speech is slurred or confused
- T — Time to call 9-1-1!
If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not try to tough it out or sleep it off. Do not make an appointment with your doctor for next week or agree to go to Urgent Care in the morning. A stroke is a life-threatening event that can get worse at any time. Seek emergency care immediately.
The faster you get in the ambulance and to the hospital, the faster doctors can start brain-saving measures and the greater your chance of recovery.
Stroke Prevention Begins at Home
To lower your risk of stroke, you can make some basic changes in your lifestyle, including:
- Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, it's time to quit.
- Eat healthy with vegetables, fruits, fish, and chicken. Limit salt and bad fats.
- Stay active, and maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and/or high cholesterol.
Stroke Recovery Begins at Sarasota Memorial
For those who have experienced a stroke, are recovering from a stroke, or provide care and support to someone recovering from a stroke, Sarasota Memorial hosts several free monthly events focused on building community, offering support, and providing expert answers to any questions, including.
For a full schedule and more information on Sarasota Memorial events and support groups, click here.
Written by Sarasota Memorial copywriter Philip Lederer, MA, who crafts a variety of external communications for the healthcare system. SMH’s in-house wordsmith, Lederer earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Political Philosophy from Morehead State University, KY, and uses more than 10% of his brain.