3 warning signs of brain stroke and how to act ‘FAST', according to a top neurosurgeon
A brain stroke is a medical emergency where every second counts. Recognizing the signs and taking immediate action is crucial. It could mean the difference between life and death.
Dr. Raveesh Sunkara, a board-certified neurosurgeon based in Hyderabad, has listed the 3 most common and crucial signs of a brain stroke, and why it is important to act 'FAST'. 'Recognizing these stroke symptoms quickly can save a brain and a life,' he said.
Face drooping
The first sign of a stroke is visible changes in facial asymmetry. Dr. Sunkara
said
that a stroke leads to the drooping of one side of the face. The individual will find it difficult to smile evenly.
If you see someone having a droopy face all of a sudden, ask the person to smile. If one side doesn't move or appears drooped, it's a red flag. This symptom occurs because the stroke disrupts the brain's control over facial muscles, typically on one side. Recognizing this early sign and taking swift action can potentially prevent severe brain damage.
Weakness of arms or legs
Another critical sign is weakness or numbness in one arm or leg. You can do a quick test in such circumstances.
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Ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downward or can't be lifted, it's a strong indicator of a stroke. This happens due to the impaired brain signals to the limbs, often affecting one side of the body. When the weakness affects the legs, it may cause difficulty walking or balancing.
Difficulty speaking
One of the most common signs of a stroke is disturbances in speech. Their words may be slurred, struggle to speak, or produce confused speech.
One simple way to recognize this is to ask them to repeat a simple sentence. If they can't, or it sounds unclear, act immediately. Disturbances in speech happen when a stroke affects the brain's language centers and impairs communication. When combined with other signs, speech difficulty is a clear call to seek emergency help.
Stroke signs you MUST not miss and ways to avoid stroke risk
How to remember these crucial signs? Just think of acting 'FAST'.
Dr. Sunkara urges everyone to memorize the F.A.S.T. acronym to recognize
stroke
symptoms quickly.
'F for face, A for weakness of arms, S for speech, and T is time.' Yes, that's right. Time is the most important step. Brain cells die rapidly during a stroke. How immediately you act and get the person to a hospital within the first few hours can make all the difference. Delaying treatment risks permanent disability or even death.
'If you see any of these signs, it's TIME TO CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY,' he said.
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