When Having a Stroke Every Minute Counts

“Every 40 seconds a person suffers a stroke, every 4 minutes someone dies and every year 795,000 people suffer either for a first time or from a recurrent stroke,”. American Heart Association.

Acting quickly can lessen the brain damage that can be caused by a cerebrovascular accident or save a life. Treatments that work best are available only if the signs of a stroke are recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms.
Stroke patients may not be eligible for the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time. That is why it is important for you to learn to recognize the symptoms.

And forget what you have heard in the past that only the elderly may suffer that ailment. Anyone, at any time and at any age can suffer from a stroke. Today, statistics reveal that more and more young adults are suffering from strokes.
But the most worrying aspect is that 73 percent of that population is not familiar with the signs and the urgent need for immediate medical care.

If you think someone might be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T and do a simple test:
F – Face: Ask the person to smile. See if one part of the face is drooping.
A – Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the person slur speech and cannot be understood?
T – Time: If you see any of the symptoms above, call 911 immediately.

It is valuable to note the time when the symptoms first appear. Believe it or not, this information will help doctors and nurses determine the best treatment for each person.
New research from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association (ASA) found that about 35 percent of Americans experience symptoms of a stroke. However, only 3 percent seek immediate medical attention.

Most adults who had at least one sign of a “mini” stroke, also known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) waited or rested until symptoms disappeared, instead of calling 911 immediately.
“Officially, about 5 million Americans or 2.3 percent have had a self-reported TIA physician diagnosed, but as this study suggests, we suspect that the actual percentage is higher because many people who experience similar symptoms do not report them,” warned Dr. Mitch Elkind, ASA president.
Remember then that acting fast can be the difference between life and death.