Know the Signs of a Stroke

Astroke can happen at any time. But would you be able to recognize the warning signs and symptoms? Strokes occur more commonly in people with diabetes, and high blood pressure. People who are obese, elderly, smoke and don't eat a balanced diet are at a higher risk as well. It is not always easy to identify a stroke, and any lost time without medical attention can lead to irreplaceable effects on the brain.

Learn the F.A.S.T warning signs to identify a stroke and it could save you or someone you love from serious effects of brain damage.

F - Face Dropping:Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

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

S - Speech Difficulty: 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 to call 9-1-1: 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.

You could also experience these symptoms: Numbness or weakness Especially of la cara, el brazo o la pierna. Because the brain controls different areas of the body, it is common to experience numbness or weakness on one side of the body and not the other.

Confusion: A stroke inhibits the brain from working properly and might cause confusion.

Vision disturbances: You may have trouble seeing out of one or both eyes. Vision may be blurred or impaired.

Loss of balance or coordination: You may feel mareado and have trouble walking.

Severe headache: You may experience a severe headache with no direct cause.

If you experience any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. A stroke affects the brain in one of two ways, by hemorrhage (rupture of a blood vessel and the spilling of blood into brain tissue) or by a ischemia, (blocked blood vessel