The most common cause of a cerebrovascular accident, also known as a stroke, is a sudden disruption in the flow of blood to the brain. This disruption is created when the arteries leading to the brain become constricted or blocked, which results in a significant decrease in blood flow. When an artery in the brain bursts, allowing blood to stream out into the surrounding tissue of the brain (hemorrhage), resulting in damage, which is typically long-lasting, to the portion of the brain that was affected.
Because of the major damage, which is often life-altering, after a stroke, Stroke Awareness Month is a medical campaign that aims to educate the general public about the dangers of a stroke. Often, the warning signs can be easy to miss, and the opportunity to save someone from stroke damage is missed.
The Warning Signs for a Stroke
Symptoms you should know to look for in a potential stroke situation include dizziness, weakness, problems speaking, and changes in vision or eyesight.
Disorientation, headaches, and loss of balance may also present as stroke symptoms. Problems with comprehension, numbness to portions of the body, and difficulty walking are all potential stroke symptoms.
Learn This Acronym for Stroke Awareness- FAST
F—Face: Request that the individual smile. Is there a sagging appearance on one side?
A—Arms: Request that the individual raise both of their arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Request that the individual repeats a short statement for you. Is the speaker’s speech slurred or otherwise unusual?
T-Time: Call 9-1-1 immediately if you notice any of these warning signals.
A stroke demands prompt medical intervention. The earlier that medical treatment begins, the higher the patient’s probability of surviving the event.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
When you first discover the warning indications of a stroke, it is vital to the patient’s health that you get to the hospital as quickly as possible. The amount of time that passes between the onset of the first symptom and the patient’s arrival at the hospital is very significant. Patients who arrive at the hospital within three hours of the time they exhibit the first symptoms of a stroke have the opportunity to get tissue plasminogen activator treatment (TPA).
Stroke awareness is something to continue to think about and remember after Stroke Awareness Month. Because of the potential for long-term disabilities and even death, everyone should be aware of the warning signs of a stroke. There isn’t an age requirement or health standard for a stroke to occur, and people young and old have had their lives permanently altered by the lasting effects of a stroke.