Medical Experts Say Knowing the Signs of A Stroke Could Save Your Life

(KNSI) – May is stroke awareness month, and CentraCare Health wants to make sure everyone knows the signs of a stroke.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is a leading cause of severe and long-term disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.

Approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke each year, killing nearly 130,000 Americans.

CentraCare Stroke Neurology Nurse Practitioner Leah Roereing says a simple way to identify the signs of a stroke and what to do if you think you’re having a stroke is FAST.

” ‘F’ stands for face if you have one side of the face that’s starting to droop. ‘A’ would be arm weakness. ‘S’ would be speech. You have difficulty with your speech. And then ‘T’ has really nothing to do with what symptoms you’re having, but it’s time. Because time is of the essence, get in so we can help you.”

Roereing talked about why it’s essential to seek medical help at the first sign of a stroke.

“When you’re in the process of having a stroke, your brain is starting to die. And there are interventions that we can do in the emergency setting to try to help decrease the damage and sometimes even reverse it.”

Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptured.

When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.

The resulting damage can lead to a significant disability, including paralysis, speech problems, and emotional difficulties.

According to the Journal of American Stroke Association, only 25 percent of patients experiencing an acute stroke seek immediate medical treatment.

For more information on strokes, click here.

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