Back in 2020, one out of 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease occurred because of strokes. When a person deals with a stroke, about 120 million brain cells can die every hour. In the US alone, strokes represent the third leading cause of death.
However, receiving medical care as fast as possible in case of stroke can be life-saving. It can also prevent permanent damage to the brain. When the circulation of blood to the brain is blocked for a short time, such as a few minutes, a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs. Even in this scenario, the patient is dealing with a medical emergency that could also be prior to a future and more serious stroke.
Don’t neglect these symptoms
CNN reveals what the Mayo Clinic has to say about how to identify strokes. If the person is dealing with a sudden and severe headache, trouble walking, vision problems, trouble speaking and understanding, or numbness or paralysis in the limbs or face, it can mean that a stroke is happening.
In the case of a stroke occurring, there is such a thing as FAST. That’s an acronym for ‘face, arms, speech, and time to call the doctor.’ As you’ve probably already guessed, FAST describes what to do in case you see someone manifesting signs of a stroke. First, ask the person to smile and see if both sides of the face are aligned as they should. Second, ask the person to lift both arms and see if there are any difficulties there. Third, ask the person to just say something so that you can see if there is any trouble speaking. If the person fails to complete these simple tasks or at least has trouble doing so, it’s time to call the doctor.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of stroke is high blood pressure.
