Learn to Act FAST
Strokes--roughly 20 million people worldwide suffer from a stroke each year. The American Heart Association estimates that someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. That means that in the time it took us to write this 45 people have suffered a stroke and that`s JUST in the U.S. It is estimated that 22% of men and 25% of women die within a year of their first stroke, and 14% of people who have a stroke or a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) will have another within a year of the first occurrence. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke can literally save your life or the life of a loved one. Always remember to act F.A.S.T.:
F: Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A: Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time: If you observe ANY of these signs, call 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.
Noting the time when the symptoms first appear will help medical personal in administering the proper medications. There is an FDA approved `clot buster` medication that must be given within the first THREE hours of the initial symptoms. This drug is known as tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). It is the only thrombolytic (clot-dissolving) drug approved to treat strokes in the United States. It can not only stave off death but also lasting disability. Remember, a stroke strikes fast, and so should you.