5 Warning Signs of a Stroke

[tweetherder]Find out what are the 5 warning signs of a #stroke. @natlstrokeassoc[/tweetherder]

This photo above was taken on our wedding anniversary this year. It was not how we envisioned spending our anniversary. Jim had a stroke while we were in Florida. The smiles you see on our faces is the fact that we are just grateful that he is still alive and with us today. To say that it took us by surprise and shocked us is an understatement, but the fact that we were able to get him help quickly aided in his recovery process.

While we were at his neurologist’s office, I picked up a bookmark from the National Stroke Association that listed 5 warning signs and symptoms of a stroke. I’d like to share these with you so in case you ever notice these signs and symptoms in someone, you should get them help immediately. What we learned from our experience is that every minute counts when someone has a stroke because there are certain medications that can be administered to possibly lessen the effects of a stroke, but there is only a small window of time after the stroke occurs that it can be administered.

The 5 warning signs and symptoms of a stroke are:
– Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
– Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
– Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
– Sudden sever headache with no known cause

On the bookmark was also this quick way to remember:
F = face numbness or weakness especially one side
A = arm numbness or weakness especially one side of body
S = speech slurred or difficulty speaking or understanding
T = time to call 911

How to reduce your risk of a stroke:
– Control your blood pressure
– Find out if you have an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AF)
– Control diabetes
– If you smoke, stop
– Control cholesterol
– Drink alcohol only in moderation
– Enjoy a lower sodium, lower fat diet
– Ask your doctor about stroke

Jim is currently going through rehabilitation therapy to help him regain more function on the side of his body that was affected the most. He spends 6 hours a day, 5 days a week undergoing therapy and he’s working hard at it. We were able to get him the help he needed quickly enough so the medicine to lessen the effects of the stroke was administered to him. We hope that by sharing this with you that we can prevent another family from having to go through this life-changing event.

Visit the National Stroke Association’s website, Facebook page, and Twitter page to find out more information and resources available.