There are two types of stroke: Both types of stroke result in brain tissue damage

Ischemic (caused by lack of blood flow) or

Hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding into the brain)

If you think someone is having a stroke…… Act F.A.S.T. *

*Face: Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven or only on one side of the face?

*Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
*Speech: Ask the person to speak a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?
*Time: If the answer to any of the above questions is YES, take action and call 911.

The first three hours after symptoms appear are critical.

Your chances of having a stroke are dependant on certain risk factors. Risk factors you cannot control include age, race, sex, and family history. Other risk factors are controllable such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking, drinking, diet and exercise. You can help prevent your risk of stroke by following the National Stroke Association’s stroke prevention guidelines which are published on their website

The common warning signs of a stroke include sudden onset of function (principally to one side of the body) such as numbness or weakness in arm, leg or facial area. There may be a sudden loss of speech, memory, vision, impaired coordination or loss of balance, or an inability to control movement or paralysis. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

A stroke is always considered an emergency. Time is of the essence in responding and seeking treatment. It’s important to write down or make a record of when symptoms started. A neurologist or emergency doctor must examine the stroke victim to understand their condition, determine what treatment options exist, and to find out what caused the stroke. The neurologist may need to conduct a neurologic exam and may need to run diagnostic tests to determine the best treatment.