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Time Is Brain

It is so important to recognize the signs of stroke and to be sure that you or a loved one receives care quickly.

A simple way to remember the warning signs of stroke is:

B - BALANCE: Watch for sudden loss of balance

E - EYES: Check for vision loss

F - FACE: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

A - ARM: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S - SPEECH: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T - TIME: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Additional symptoms of stroke include:

  • Numbness or weakness of face arm and/or leg
  • Acute Vision Changes
  • Difficulty in speaking
  • Trouble in understanding simple statements
  • Confusion
  • Trouble in walking or maintaining balance
  • Sudden severe headache

A stroke interrupts blood flow to the brain. Fortunately, there are medications that, when administered quickly, can restore blood flow and start the healing process. Ideally, patients should receive this treatment within a three hour window. Earlier is always better.