According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year. While most strokes occur in people over the age of 65, anyone can have a stroke at any age, which is why the professionals at UAB Medical West want you to be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with stroke so that you can seek medical care as soon as possible for optimal treatment!
What Is a Stroke?
The National Stroke Association states that a stroke happens when damage to the brain takes place due to interruption of blood supply. When blood supply to your brain is interrupted, it deprives the brain of oxygen, causing the cells to die and a stroke to occur.
There are a number of signs and symptoms to look out for when it comes to a stroke, such as:
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness
- Headache
- Sudden vision loss
- Difficulty swallowing
- Mental confusion
- Pins and needles sensation
- Muscle weakness or numbness in the face
When it comes to a stroke, time is of the essence. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of a stroke as soon as possible so that medical attention can be sought at the earliest point possible.
The acronym F.A.S.T. stands for ?Face, Arms, Speech, and Time.? If you see someone who has one side of their face drooping, cannot lift their arms above their head and can?t repeat a sentence clearly, it is time to go to the emergency room!
Treatment for Stroke
If you are able to get the person who is suffering from a stroke to a hospital in a quick manner, he or she might be able to benefit from early treatment like a tPA (clot buster) to treat the stroke and minimize damage to his or her brain.
Another treatment option that might be used along with a medication like tPA could be surgery, where a mechanical device will be inserted to break up and remove the blood clots. Yet, if the stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke, which means it is more of a brain bleed than a blood clot causing the symptoms, then surgical clips or coils are used in order to stop the bleeding.
No matter what, the main goal is to get the person to a medical professional as quickly as possible so that medical attention can be used to help stop the stroke as quickly as possible.
Do you think your loved one is experiencing the signs of a stroke? The medical team at UAB Medical West in Bessemer, AL, is here to help.
Call our physician referral line at 205-996-WEST to schedule an appointment with a UAB Medical West provider. We are here to serve the communities of Hoover, Bessemer, McCalla, and Vance and more!