Know these 3 signs of stroke

(NC) In healthcare, there’s a saying about strokes: “time lost is brain lost.” When a stroke happens, every second counts.

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after onset, so the sooner blood flow can be restored, the better the chance of survival—with little or no disability.

If you, or someone with you, experiences any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number FAST.

FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the three major signs of stroke, and action to take:

F - face, is it drooping?

A - arms, can you raise them?

S - speech, is it slurred or jumbled?

T - time to call 9-1-1 right away.

Don’t drive yourself or the person experiencing signs to the hospital—an ambulance will get you to the closest hospital that provides urgent stroke care. Emergency medical services will be able to determine which hospital in your area can best help.

Treatments can reduce the severity and reverse some of the effects, and it's important they’re given as quickly as possible.

More signs of stroke
The FAST signs are the most common and are more likely to be caused by stroke than any other condition. But there are additional signs that some people experience. They include:

• vision changes—blurred or double vision
• sudden severe headache, usually accompanied by some of the other signs
• numbness—usually on one side of the body
• problems with balance

Stroke is a leading cause of death and adult disability in Canada. Almost one million people are living with the effects and more than 108,000 strokes occur each year—that’s roughly one every five minutes.

Share the signs—you could save the life of someone you love. Learn more at heartandstroke.ca/fast.