Act fast on a stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency. It happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or, more commonly, when a blockage happens. Without treatment, cells in the brain quickly begin to die. This can cause serious disability or death. If a loved one is having stroke symptoms, seek emergency medical support immediately.

Stroke symptoms

These may include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the body, especially on one side

• Vision changes in one or both eyes, or trouble swallowing

• Severe headache with an unknown cause

• Problems with dizziness, walking, or balance

• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding others

Think FAST

The FAST test helps spot symptoms. It stands for:

• Face drooping. Ask for a smile. Does one side droop?

• Arm weakness or numbness.

•Speech. Can the person repeat a simple sentence? Do they have trouble or slur words?

•Don't make delay seeking emergency medical support.

Time = Brain damage

Every second counts. Without oxygen, brain cells begin dying within minutes. Once brain tissue has died, the body parts controlled by that area won't work right. This makes stroke a top cause of long-term disability. There are clot-busting drugs that can curb brain damage, and they must be given in a short time -- usually within 3 hours of when symptoms start.

Ischemic stroke

This is the most common type of stroke: Nearly nine out of 10 fall into this category. An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks the supply of blood to or in the brain. The clot may start in that spot or travel through the blood from elsewhere in the body. Clogged arteries are a top cause.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a weakened blood vessel in the brain bursts. The result is bleeding inside the brain that can be hard to stop. The most common cause is high blood pressure. Other causes include aneurysms and AVMs (arteriovenous malformations), which weaken blood vessels in he brain.

'Mini-stroke' (TIA)

Transient ischemic attacks, often called "mini-strokes," are also an emergency. When they happen, blood flow is temporarily hampered in part of the brain, causing stroke-like symptoms. When the blood flows again, the symptoms stop. You can't tell at the time if it's a stroke or TIA. Having a TIA is also a warning sign, so see your doctor if you think you've had one.

Risk factors

Your chance of having a stroke rises with age and if you have:

• Had a stroke or TIA before

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Obesity

• Sickle cell disease

Smoking, heavy drinking, and not being active also raise your risk.

What's on your plate?

Eating too much fat and cholesterol can cause plaque to narrow arteries. Too much salt may lead to high blood pressure. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish may help lower your stroke risk.

Lowering your risk

Find out if you have any conditions that you need to treat to help prevent a stroke. That may mean taking medicine and also boosting healthy habits, from the foods you eat to being active and not smoking. It is never too late to start.

Source: WebMD