Recognizing stroke signs can help save lives
May is American Stroke Month, a reminder that knowing the signs of stroke can help you act quickly when minutes matter.
In a recent KENS 5 Healthy SA segment, Dr. Zander Smith, emergency medicine physician at Methodist Hospital Northeast, shared what the community should know about recognizing stroke symptoms and calling 911 right away when stroke is suspected.
A helpful way to remember common warning signs is B.E. F.A.S.T.:
Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
Eyes: Sudden vision changes
Face: One side of the face droops or feels numb
Arm: One arm feels weak or numb
Speech: Speech is slurred, difficult to understand or hard to repeat
Time: Call 911 right away
Other stroke symptoms can include sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, trouble seeing, dizziness or a severe headache with no known cause.
Stroke is an emergency. Calling 911 helps connect someone to emergency medical professionals who can begin evaluation and care as quickly as possible.