To begin with an analogy, a stroke is the brain’s equivalent of a heart attack. It is a crisis of blood flow within the brain. Either a blood vessel becomes blocked causing a part of the brain to suffer from a lack of oxygen and fuel (sugar), known as an ischemic stroke, or a blood vessel “bleeds out”, which is called a brain aneurism or hemorrhagic stroke. In the case of an aneurism, the volume of blood that pools within or against the brain puts significant pressure on the very sensitive brain tissue and can literally squeeze the life out of it!
A sudden onset “brain attack” can come in different “sizes” if you will. Size “extra-small” is a TIA, or transient ischemic attack. This is a temporary blockage with in blood vessel which is resolved within few minutes to several hours, and the symptoms associated with it fully resolve within 24 hours. Full blown strokes can be small, medium, large, or downright deadly! One-third of people who go on to have a full blown stroke experience one or more of these TIAs beforehand.
Speed in identifying a stroke and obtaining medical care can influence the “size” of the stroke and become the difference between life and death. So familiarize yourself and your loved ones with the 5 warning signs below, and one day you may become someone’s hero—maybe even your own!
Face – Arm – Leg: Numbness, especially on one side of the body
Head: Severe headache, mental confusion, or difficulty understanding speech
Eyes: Trouble seeing with one or both eyes
Tongue: Trouble speaking
Balance: Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
The symptoms of a stroke—both big and small ones—come on suddenly. Your response needs to be just as rapid. If you observe (or experience) one or more of these sudden-onset signs, call 9-1-1 or get the affected person to an emergency department PRONTO!
