Stroke
Overview of stroke
Stroke is an urgent medical condition that occurs when blood flow to your brain tissue is disrupted, either due to bleeding or a blood clot. Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke helps you make sure the injured person receives medical attention as quickly as possible.
If you suspect that you or your loved one is having a stroke, call 911. Call even if you are not sure whether or not the person is really having a stroke. Early treatment is vital.
Our dedicated team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and support staff provides expert care to help ease stroke symptoms in AZ, CA, and NV. Find a Doctor today at Dignity Health to discuss your prevention and treatment options.
Signs of a stroke
Everyone should know the signs of a stroke. Calling 911 can save a person’s life.
The most common signs and symptoms of stroke are sudden and may include:
- Loss of movement, especially on just one side of the body
- Weakness in the arms or legs, especially on just one side
- One-sided weakness or sagging of the face
- Inability to speak a coherent sentence
- Severe headache along with any other stroke symptom
- Vision loss or disturbance in one or both eyes
To quickly tell whether a person might be experiencing a stroke, use the FAST approach:
- F for Face: Is the person’s smile lopsided?
- A for Arms: If the person extends both arms to the sides and raises them to shoulder level, does one arm droop?
- S for Speech: Does the person have difficulty speaking a simple sentence such as “the sky is blue today”?
- T for Time: If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” call 911 immediately.
Never delay emergency treatment if you or someone you know experiences stroke signs and symptoms in NV, AZ, and CA.