FAST Action Can Minimize Stroke Damage

My dad had a stroke last week. At 83 he's becoming frail and old age has been taking a toll for some years now. He has a host of medical problems, not the least of which is diabetes and accompanying peripheral neuropathy. It makes him very unsteady on his feet, even with a walker, and it's easy for him to overbalance and fall. He fell on the way back from the bathroom in the middle of the night last week.

At first mom thought it was just a balance fall, especially since he wasn't complaining of anything. But the next night his speech was slurred more than usual and he couldn't always think of the right words when he was talking. He dragged his right foot more than normal, but he does sometimes when he's tired at the end of the day. Still not expecting that this was an emergency, mom called his doctor the next morning. Dad spoke to him and was lucid and reasonably clear, leading the doctor to believe things were OK. He fell again that day and started having trouble getting out of his chair that afternoon. Finally, he couldn't get out of his chair at all and mom called 911. At the hospital they said he had had a TIA, a little stroke, maybe more than one.

Mom didn't know what the symptoms of a stroke are. She didn't know that every minute counts when someone has a stroke, that the faster help is given, the greater the chance of avoiding damage. She knows now and I want to share that information with you. If you think your loved one may be experiencing a stroke, don't delay. Call 911 immediately.

Stroke symptoms:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. About 600,000 new strokes are reported each year in the U.S. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of necessary oxygen and nutrients and causing them to die. Strokes are most commonly caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke) but may also be caused by a broken blood vessel bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). If treatment is received within 60 minutes, the risk of damage and disability is greatly reduced. If you suspect someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.

• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
• Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying!