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Published: 11/26/2012
BY JOHN M. WHAPHAM SPECIAL TO THE BLADE
Stroke symptoms can appear the day of or even days before a stroke.
One patient reported she was dropping shopping bags, and the next day she overslept which was very out of character for her. She went to her hairdresser in the afternoon and started to drop things again. She staggered on her way to the ladies room, and when she went to leave, her mouth seemed to be twisting and her speech started to slur. She walked to her car and began to drive. She ran over a bolt in the parking lot and her tire completely flattened, forcing her to go back in to the hair salon and called her brother.
Her doctor later told her that was the best thing that could have happened, because had she driven home and gone to bed - she may not be alive today.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S., a stroke occurs when there is a sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain. This is caused by a blockage, rupture, or injury of a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. Someone in our country experiences a stroke every 45 seconds. Too often, people do not recognize when a stroke is happening, losing critical time. It is crucial to recognize the signs of a stroke and call 911 or get to the emergency room immediately.
Some warnings signs of a stroke may include:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or leg, especially on one side
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking and/or understanding
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Signs of stroke important to know