Know Stroke Signs & Symptoms on the Central Coast


Time is essential when it comes to stroke. Every minute, every hour matters when someone is having a stroke.

Stroke is a neurological condition that occurs when blood flow to your brain is disrupted due to bleeding or a blood clot. Seeking immediate emergency care or calling 911 can save a person’s life in the event of a stroke.

Dignity Health Central Coast is the largest network of Primary Stroke Center hospitals in the area. Find a Doctor if you or a family member are at risk or are experiencing stroke symptoms on the Central Coast of California.

Identifying Stroke Signs & Symptoms

Our neurology care team recommends that everyone learn the common signs of a stroke. Knowing them can help save a person’s life. 

Dignity Health Central Coast neurologists look for these common signs of stroke: 

  • Inability to speak a coherent sentence
  • Weakness on one side or sagging of the face
  • Severe headache with other stroke symptoms
  • Arm or leg weakness and inability to move, especially if on one side
  • Vision changes or loss in one or both eyes 

BE-FAST to spot the signs of a stroke

Balance: Loss of balance or coordination, dizziness.

Eyes: Vision changes in one eye or both.

Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. 

 

Diagnosing Causes of Stroke at Dignity Health Central Coast

When you come to our emergency room, a doctor will quickly examine the person for signs and symptoms of stroke. Our neurological team also may order computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the head to identify the exact cause of the stroke. Life-saving, clot-busting medication can significantly help with stroke caused by a blood clot.

To understand early stroke signs and symptoms and our fast treatment, reach out to a Dignity Health Central Coast today.

Dignity Health neurology specialists identify stroke signs and symptoms throughout the Central Coast of California.