The National Stroke Association promotes an easy way to identify the signs of a stroke:
|
Act F.A.S.T.
|
| Face |
Ask the person to smile.
Does one side of the face droop? |
| Arms |
Ask the person to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward? |
| Speech |
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly? |
| Time |
If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.
Call 9-1-1 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
|
The best approach: Learn to recognize all of the signs of stroke
“Act F.A.S.T.” is easy to remember, but it leaves out some symptoms that could help you identify a stroke. The Providence Stroke Center advocates learning all of the warning signs of stroke, as identified by the National Stroke Association. These signs include:
-
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
This list may be harder to memorize, but it could help you recognize a stroke in time for you or a loved one to receive life-saving treatment.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any reason to believe that someone is having a stroke — even if only one of these symptoms is present. If you have any doubts, the 9-1-1 dispatcher can help determine the nature of the emergency and send help as needed.
For a free FAST bookmark, e-mail us at BrainInstitute@providence.org or call 503-216-1055.
For more information visit the Providence Stroke Center.
|
