Have you ever wondered what it may look or feel like when a person is having a stroke? A stroke can happen to anyone at any time; it will not stop to think about whether you are in the middle of something like working, grocery shopping, or driving.

Warning Signs of Stroke: What to Notice


Have you ever wondered what it may look or feel like when a person is having a
stroke? A stroke can happen to anyone at any time; it will not stop to think
about whether you are in the middle working, grocery shopping, or driving.
Knowing what to look for can mean the difference between life and death, or the
difference between saving and losing vital brain cells that help you function.
That’s why it’s so important to recognize the signs and act quickly.

BE FAST to Recognize Stroke Symptoms
The most important thing you must do should you notice the symptoms
[https://blog.neofect.com/5-symptoms-left-side-stroke-brain/] of a stroke in
yourself or someone else is to stop what you are doing and call 9-1-1. Remember,
a stroke is a medical emergency and warrants immediate medical attention, even
if you are not sure it’s a stroke. The 9-1-1 operator you call and the
paramedics who show up will not be upset with you for calling, even if it ends
up being a false alarm - they would rather be safe than sorry!

One of the easiest ways to remember the signs and symptoms
[https://blog.neofect.com/5-symptoms-right-side-stroke-brain/] of a stroke is to
think: BE FAST.

B - Balance
E - Eyes

F - Face
A - Arm
S - Speech
T - Time

Now let’s break these down one by one to help each one stand out in your mind.

Balance Loss
This refers to new unsteadiness or difficulty staying upright and in control of
your body’s position. Some people may experience dizziness that makes them feel
“weird” or like they can’t quite stand up or sit up correctly. Some feel as
though they can’t quite get a solid footing, or that their bodies aren’t
reacting quickly enough with a change in position or movement. Sometimes muscles
just can’t quite coordinate or work right while standing, sitting, or walking.

This symptom may feel like someone is sweeping the rug out from beneath you, or
that you are stepping off of a boat and can’t find equilibrium quickly enough.
Often, people feel the need to grasp at other objects, lean against something,
or sit down to help with the feeling of falling. It is easy to pass these
strange feelings off with thoughts like, “I’m just tired from things happening
in my life, so this must be my body’s response,” or “maybe I didn’t drink enough
water or eat enough breakfast.” DON’T ignore your body when it doesn’t feel
right! A change in balance could mean a stroke - call 9-1-1.

Eyesight Changes
If you suddenly have a change in your vision, this is a reason to take action by
getting yourself checked out right away. This symptom is not referring to the
gradual changes that take place as we age, rather sudden changes that have no
obvious explanation. A change in vision or a change in one or both eyes can mean
different things for each person. You may experience sudden blurriness, double
vision, difficulty reading, or confusion with written words. This symptom may be
more of a dizziness-related feeling, with the world spinning around you. When in
doubt, check it out!

Face Drooping
Sometimes when a person is experiencing the start of a stroke, his or her face
may become asymmetrical or uneven. Often, one side of the face will become numb,
tingly, or “droopy.” A quick and effective way to check for this is to try to
smile a big smile while looking in the mirror (or if you suspect someone else is
experiencing a stroke, ask that person to smile while you observe). If the smile
is noticeably uneven from one side to the other, get help. Another quick check
is to try to shut both eyes as tightly as you can and have someone check to see
if one eye is not closing as firmly as the other. Remember, some faces are a bit
asymmetrical to start with - this symptom refers to something that is brand new
for that person.

Arm Weakness
Sudden weakness, numbness, tingling, or even paralysis of a body part is one
sign that a stroke may be happening. Often this is most noticeable on one side
of the body (for example, the right arm and leg). A quick check for this is
raising both arms at the same time; if one arm drops down or can’t be moved to
the same height as the other, get checked out quickly. Remember that each person
experiences a stroke differently: while one person may have weakness or a
“strange” feeling in her left arm and leg, another may have more obvious
paralysis, and only in his right arm. If something is different or doesn’t feel
right, get it checked by a doctor right away.



Speech Difficulty
When a person suddenly has trouble talking or understanding a conversation, it
can indicate the beginning of a stroke. This symptom can also vary from person
to person, and may look or sound like confusion, slurred speech, using incorrect
words in a sentence, being hard to understand while having a conversation, or
not being able to speak at all. A quick check for this is to ask the person to
repeat a simple sentence. If he or she can’t repeat 5-6 words clearly,
correctly, or in the right order, get help.

Time to Call 911!
The most important part about recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is
knowing that “time is brain.” The faster a person receives medical help, the
faster he or she can be evaluated and treated. Even if the signs or symptoms
that were noticed seem to be going away, call 9-1-1 and get help right away.
Once a stroke starts, a part of the brain is being starved of oxygen and brain
cells are starting to die. The longer this lasts, the longer that part of the
brain is being injured, and the greater the effects to the rest of the body as a
result.



Less Common Stroke Symptoms
Although not a part of the BE FAST acronym, some strokes present as a sudden,
severe headache that has no obvious cause. Often, this is described as “the
worst headache of my life”. Don't ignore serious symptoms that seem to come out
of nowhere! Your body is telling you that something is wrong.

Responding to a Stroke
If you think you are having a stroke, or that someone near you is having a
stroke, first call 9-1-1 immediately. Tell the operator that you are thinking
stroke, and let the emergency personnel handle the rest. Do not attempt to drive
yourself to the hospital, because there’s no way to tell what other symptoms you
may experience on the way or how safe you will be. If you are helping someone
else who may be having a stroke, make sure the person is safe, (lying down on
the floor to prevent falling!) that you are nearby watching for new symptoms,
and that the paramedics can get to you easily. Strokes are scary, but knowing
when one may be happening and what to do about it is powerful and important for
saving a life.

References
Duke Health [dukehealth.org]
American Stroke Association [stroke.org]
Mayo Clinic [mayoclinic.org]

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.

Stroke Prevention

Both men and women can suffer from a stroke but men exhibit different warning signs. Men tend to experience them at a younger age. Learn why.

What are the Early Warning Signs of Stroke in Men?

Both men and women can suffer from a stroke. However, men exhibit different
warning signs than woman do.

Strokes
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/can-stress-cause-a-stroke-the-answer-may-shock-you] 
have historically been shown to be more fatal for woman. However more men tend
to experience them at a younger age.

It is very important for everyone to know the warning signs of a stroke because
you never know when that knowledge may come in handy to save a loved one's life!
The more familiar you are with the warning signs, the sooner you can get help
and the sooner you get help, the higher the chances are of survival.



You Must React F.A.S.T!
F.A.S.T. is an acronym that helps you remember the warning signs of stroke.

F - Face drooping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Time to call 911

What are the Warning Signs for Men?


The three most common warning signs for men are the following:

 * Difficulty in maintaining balance and coordination
 * Weakness on one side of the body
 * Numbness on one side of the body

Other symptoms that may occur are:

 * Dizziness
 * Sudden headache
 * Pain
 * Feeling faint
 * Vision changes
 * Confusion
 * Inability to speak
 * Stomach pain
 * Feeling nauseous
 * Difficulty understanding a conversation

The CDC reports that stroke is the 5th leading cause of death
[https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/index.htm] in the United States. However, most of
the population do not know the warning signs of a stroke.

It is very important to receive medical attention as soon as you exhibit any of
these warning signs as each second is crucial for survival. Stroke is a severe
medical emergency and if a person does not receive medical attention right away
they are at greater risk for permanent brain damage or death.

If a stroke is treated quickly doctors are able to administer Tissue
Plasminogen
Activator (tPA) [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199512143332401] 
which is a medication that helps dissolve blood clots. tPA can help decrease the
amount of damage done after sustaining a stroke but can only be administered
within 3 hours of showing warning signs. Therefore it is very important to get
help as quickly as you can in order to allow for the most successful recovery!

If you have had a stroke and are looking for an effective solution for your
rehabilitation needs, please look into Neofect's line of Smart Rehabilitation
Solutions [https://www.neofect.com/us].

To learn more, please call (888) 623-8984 or email contactus@neofect.com.