TELL THE OPERATOR YOU THINK YOU ARE HAVING A STROKE.
Do not read on.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is, essentially, a brain attack.
If this happens to your heart, you have a heart attack.
When it happens in your brain, thats a stroke.
How do I know Im having a stroke?
The single most important symptom presentation is that its a sudden onset, Stillman said.
Youre fine one minute and the next youre not.
Its a fairly dramatic, sudden onset change in neurologic symptoms.
It could be a change in balance, suddenly youre unable to balance the way you have before.
It could be a change in gaits, he said.
And, again, its important to remember these changes aresudden.
Sudden neurologic symptoms really should bring up the idea that this is a stroke, Rostanski said.
Headaches are not common stroke symptoms, but they do sometimes accompany hemorrhagic strokes.
In that case, its sudden onset headache.
It goes from onset to peak within, say 20 or 30 minutes.
And it reaches a high peak, like a 10 out of 10 severity, Stillman says.
A goodmnemonicto keep in mind isF.A.S.T.:Face,Arms,Speech,Time.
What do I do if I think Im having one?
If you think you or someone you are with is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
Dont call your best friend.
Dont call your doctor.
When you call 911, identifying that you think this is a stroke is important, Rostanski said.
That sets off a whole chain of stroke treatment.
If a stroke is in the forefront of EMTs mind when they reach you, they can pre-notify hospital.
Its also important to tell doctors when you first started experiencing symptoms.
Emergency doctors will be prepared immediately, since time is of the essence.
Its similar to a gunshot injury to the brain.
What happens at the hospital?
That must be done within 4.5 hours, or it wont be successful.
Its not atypical for complicated stroke patient to have to be transferred, Rostanski said.
Could I mistake something else for a stroke?
Still, if you even suspect a stroke, Get to a hospital immediately, he said.
The earlier within 4.5 hours the better.
If you might get in within 30 minutes, youre better off than within 1 hour.
Who gets strokes?
Older people are more likely to suffer strokes, since increasing age is substantial risk factor, Stillman said.
Call 911, Rostanski said.
Its OK if youre wrong.
We dont catch strokes unless we suspect them.
