Stroke - Act FAST
*Disclaimer- This post should not be considered to provide complete information on Stroke. It should not be considered as medical advice. Please see your physician with your concerns and to discuss your risks.*
Did you know that May is National Stroke Awareness Month? I am the Stroke Coordinator at the facility where I work and have been busy over the last several months collecting data. One thing that I have found while collecting quality data is that there needs to be more awareness about stroke. People simply miss the warning signs and symptoms. While I am working on a big Community Awareness Day for my hospital, I thought I would share some information with you throughout the month of May.
Today's tip - Act F.A.S.T.
F.A.S.T. is a simple acronym to help you recognize the warning signs of a stroke.
F - Face - When the person smiles, does one side of their face droop?
A - Arms - Have the person hold both arms straight out in front of them. Does one arm drift downward?
S - Speech - Have the person repeat a simple phrase. Does their speech seem slurred or are words unintelligible?
T - Time - If any of these signs are evident - CALL 911! I can not stress this enough. Time may = brain matter.
The National Stroke Association also lists the following symptoms on their website:
- SUDDEN numbness or weakness of 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.
Go to Stroke.Org for more information. Also, keep checking back here more information about Stroke Awareness. As you can see, I have added a page to my blog about health. You can click on that tab to see health tips that have been posted. This is the first :-).
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