by Dr. Aaron Heide Sparks Tribune
A stroke is a brain attack and should be considered a medical emergency, the same as a heart attack. Similar to a heart attack, in which blood flow to heart muscle is blocked, a stroke results from a blood clot blocking a vessel carrying blood to or within the brain.
Neurologists and other physicians who treat stroke agree that time lost is brain lost. Minutes matter when treating a person who has shown signs of stroke. Every minute that blood flow is blocked means more of the brain is damaged. Without immediate treatment only about one in five stroke sufferers makes a near or full recovery.
Strokes can have one or more warning signs and symptoms, and these can present themselves alone or in varying combinations. To recognize a stroke, watch for a person suddenly having any of these problems:
Trouble walking, losing balance, becoming dizzy or losing coordination of the arms or legs on one side of the body.
Changes to the head and eyes, including trouble seeing in one or both eyes or having double vision; slurred speech; numbness or weakness of one side of the face; or a noticeable droop of one side of the mouth or face.
Confusion and trouble speaking or understanding.
Numbness of the arms or legs on one side of the body.
Severe headache that comes on suddenly and with no known cause
If you notice any of these symptoms:
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Know the signs of stroke, how to seek care