According to the American Heart Association, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability and reduce mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over.
Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke can help save your life or the life of a loved one. FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke. Recognition of stroke and getting to a hospital rapidly will more likely lead to a better recovery.
F.A.S.T stands for:
Face: Smile and see if one side of the face droops.
Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?
Speech: Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech.
Time: If the answer to any of these is yes, call 911 right away and write down the time when symptoms started.
Reduce your risk of having a stroke by maintaining a healthy weight, getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet, lowering blood pressure, not smoking, drinking less alcohol and reducing stress. Adding natural supplements to your diet such as ginkgo biloba, omega-3’s, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins C, D and E can also be of great benefit. |