React F.A.S.T. To Signs of Stroke

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and it's a great time to remind everyone of the need to get immediate help if someone you know is experiencing symptoms of stroke. If an individual is having a stroke, it is very possible that they will not recognize that they are which makes it even more critical that those around them are aware of the signs and take urgent action.

Stroke can happen to anyone and can occur at any age. According to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and almost 25% of strokes affect people under the age of 65.

An easy acronym to help determine if stroke is occurring is F.A.S.T. Face: is the person's face drooping to one side? Arm: Is the person able to raise both arms, and maintain their balance? Speech: Can the person repeat a sentence without slurring words? If any of these symptoms are evident, Time is of the essence and you need to call 911 immediately.

When the EMTs (emergency medical technicians) or paramedics arrive, be sure to request that the patient be taken to a hospital that has a certified stroke center so that they can receive proper treatment. Oftentimes if the hospital is not equipped to treat stroke patients, the patient may be sent away without correct diagnosis and treatment, and will suffer much more extreme effects of the stroke.

Typically if the person who is suffering a stroke receives t-PA (tissue plasminogenic activators) within three hours, their risk of experiencing debilitating effects of the stroke, including paralysis on one side of their body, is greatly reduced. If treatment is administered after three hours, the drugs are much less effective.

There are also some initial signs of stroke that are not as obvious as the ones listed above. These are sometimes referred to as mini-strokes or warning strokes. The medical term is TIA or transient ischemic attack. Although these are less common, if do you experience one of these and get immediate treatment, you may ward off a major stroke. According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of TIA include: sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; dizziness or trouble walking; and sudden severe headache.

While these symptoms may sounds like the same as a stroke, the difference between TIAs and stroke, is that the TIA symptoms are short term, often lasting no more than 5 minutes, and do not cause brain injury. However, they are not to be ignored, as about 50% of patients that experience TIAs suffer a major stroke within one year.

Unfortunately, stroke can strike when no one is around to recognize the symptoms and call 911 immediately. The longer the stroke patient goes without medical help, the greater the risk of long term injury and even death can occur.

If someone you know and love does experience extensive injury from stroke or brain-attack, do not despair. Even though the recovery process can be very long and trying, the stroke survivor will recover and although their life style may be much different than what they previously had, there is life after stroke.

A study at the University of Maryland showed that stroke patients that used humor and a positive attitude during their recovery, looking for ways to find a positive outcome from their experience, had a greater success of recovery and suffered less from bouts of depression. Patients also fared much better if they had a strong support network of empathetic family members and loved ones to assist with transportation to doctor appointments, therapies, and other social outings.

A positive, persistent attitude will help the stroke survivor and family members get through the recovery period, and with love and support you will all come through the event much stronger and able to cope with whatever challenges life sends your way.