Stroke

Stroke
Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world, and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.  Strokes claim 6.2 million lives every year.  Spot a Stroke FAST! ​

 F -  Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?  Ask                                 
        a person to smile. Is the smile uneven?
A  - Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb?  Ask the person to raise  
        both arms.  Does one arm drift downward?
S  - Speech Difficulty - Is the speech slurred?  Is the person unable speak 
       or hard to understand?  Ask them to repeat a simple sentence.  Is it    
       repeated correctly?
T  - Time to Call 9-1-1 - If someone shows any of these symptoms, even
        if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 for transport to a primary or 
        comprehensive Stroke Center hospital immediately.
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    Check the time so you know when the first symptoms appeared. 
 
Other Signs and Symptoms of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion , trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination or sudden severe headache with no know cause.  Call 9-1-1 immediately for transport to a primary or comprehensive Stroke Center.

A new procedure (Mechanical Thrombectomy) should be done within 6 hours of acute stroke symptoms for the worst, most disabling strokes, after receiving tPA (a clot-busting drug).  Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) has long been the mainstay of treatment and should be given intravenously within 4.5 hours to be effective.​