It is said that during a stroke every minute counts.By knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke, you can take quick action and perhaps save a life.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following simple test:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call an ambulance

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Common Signs of Stroke

The three main types of stroke are:

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Ischemic Stroke

Most strokes (87%) are ischemic strokes.An ischemic stroke happens when blood flow through the artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes blocked.Blood clots often cause the blockages that lead to ischemic strokes.

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Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, which damages them.

High blood pressure\xa0and aneurysms—balloon-like bulges in an artery that can stretch and burst—are examples of conditions that can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

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TIA-Transient Ischemic Attack

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Also known as mini stroke.Here , the blood flow to the brain is blocked for only a short time—usually no more than 5 minutes

It is important to know that:

Recognizing and treating TIAs can lower the risk of a major stroke. If you have a TIA, your health care team can find the cause and take steps to prevent a major stroke.

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If you’re having a stroke, it’s critical that you get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death. Thanks to recent advances, stroke treatments and survival rates have improved greatly over the last decade.

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