How To Recognize the Signs of a Stroke

Stroke is one among the top three causes of deaths in the world. The good news is that early medical care at the first symptoms of a stroke can greatly help the outcome. The most important thing to remember when you encounter someone who you suspect has had a stroke is time matters.  If a stroke victim gets to the hospital within 2 hours of the onset of symptoms, doctors may be able to administer a drug that could counteract some of the effects of the stroke and help lead to a more meaningful recovery. The common symptoms of person getting stroke are as follows:

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

Strokes most commonly affect speech, sensation and muscle function.  Some tell-tale signs include:

1. Paralysis typically affects either one extremity or both extremities on one side of the body.
2. Facial Droop. Similar to paralysis of the extremities, one side of the stroke victim's face may lose sensation or become paralyzed.
3. Change in Mental Status. An alteration in a stroke victim's mental status can range from simple confusion and slight dizziness to total unresponsiveness.
4. Arm Drift. Another stroke assessment technique is to have your patient close his eyes and hold his arms outstretched in front of him for 10 seconds. If one of your patient's arms slowly drifts back down towards his side, it is likely that he has suffered a stroke.
5. Head Trauma. If you are certain that a patient has not suffered from any head trauma and many of these signs and symptoms are present, you can be pretty sure that a stroke has occurred.
   

The absence of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate that a person is NOT having a stroke. It could be extremely dangerous to reach the conclusion that a person did not require medical attention just because he or she could successfully carry out the three steps outlined in the test. If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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