Warning Signs of Stroke
Stroke is a medical emergency that affects the arteries in the brain. This occurs when blood vessels that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain are blocked by a clot or ruptures.
In 2018, stroke was the reason behind 1 of every 19 deaths in the United States. And when considered separately from other cardiovascular disease, stroke ranks 5th among all causes of death in the nation, causing a total of 147,810 deaths in 2018.
Every second counts during a stroke because time lost is brain lost! Know these stroke warning signs and share them with others:
– Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
– Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
– Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
– Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay! Call 911 so an ambulance can quicky come to you. Don’t forget to check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
It’s important to take immediate action during a stroke. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.
Source: American Heart Association
