February is Heart Health Month – look for advice throughout the month intended to help you manage cardio-related health concerns.
Knowing the signs of stroke is crucial, as prompt treatment is necessary to help reduce the damage that can be caused by a "brain attack." Be aware of these classic stroke symptoms:
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including the face
- Difficulty speaking
- Sudden disorientation, confusion or memory loss
- Dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination
- Severe headache that comes on suddenly with no apparent cause
The American Stroke Association suggests that anyone can identify a stroke by checking for the signs of facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems. As a bystander, you can help to determine if someone is having a stroke by asking them to perform three simple actions:
- Ask the person to smile
- Ask the person to raise both arms above his or her head
- Ask the person to speak a simple sentence
If the person has any problems completing these steps, call 911 immediately and describe these symptoms.