Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability
Strokes are serious and can be deadly. Being familiar with the signs of stroke and responding quickly can save your older adult’s life or reduce their chance of developing major disabilities.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States, affecting about 800,000 people each year. It also causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease.
What is a stroke?
Think of a stroke as a “brain attack.” It happens when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. That deprives brain cells of oxygen and those cells begin to die.
When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost, like memory and muscle control.
Stroke survivor disabilities
25% of stroke survivors end up with a minor disability and 40% have moderate-to-severe disabilities. They’re often left with physical weakness, speech impairment, and unusual muscle tightness.
These impairments can affect the ability to communicate, walk, eat independently, bathe, dress, and other activities of daily life.
F.A.S.T. is a shortcut to remember signs of stroke
Use these initials to remember the key signs of stroke and how to respond.
F = Face drooping on one side. Ask your senior to smile – is it uneven?
A = Is one arm weak or numb? Ask them to raise both arms – is one arm weak?
S = Speech problems like slurring, inability to speak, being incoherent. Ask them to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue” as a quick test.
T = Time to call 911. If you see any of these signs, even if the symptoms don’t last, call 911 right away and get to the hospital ASAP. Check the time so you can tell EMTs and doctors when the symptoms started.
Additional signs of stroke
Sudden symptoms like these are also signs of stroke:
Numbness or weakness of the leg, arm or face
Confusion or trouble understanding
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Severe headache with no known cause
Brief loss of consciousness
What to do if you suspect a stroke
If you notice any of the signs of stroke, call 911 immediately. Speed is very important. The faster your senior gets to the hospital for treatment, the better their chances for survival and recovery.
If the symptoms pass quickly, your older adult may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA). That’s a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain that usually happens before a stroke. Don’t ignore this warning sign! Early treatment can prevent a fatal or serious stroke.
Visit dailycaring.com for the original post and more!