Wellness Blog

Give it a second thought, suppose one who was sitting right beside you suddenly leaned forward, and his face fell on one side, and he was unable to speak distinctly? And what had been happening, would you know? Would you know what to do?

Most people would panic. And that is quite understandable. Stroke is also one of the medical emergencies whose awareness of the signs can literally save lives. And we are discussing five easy things that any person can learn and know.

Did You Know? In the world, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds. But still, the majority of the population is unable to name even two warning signs. Minimal awareness at the current time will save a life at some future time.

To begin with, What Really Occurs During a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to some part of the brain is cut off abruptly or when a blood vessel ruptures. The absence of blood causes the brain cells to begin dying rapidly. That is the reason why the golden rule with stroke is to act fast and not wait and watch.

Do not forget FAST-it's easier than you think.

The easiest method of identifying a stroke is the FAST rule. 

F - Face: Tell the individual to smile. Does one side drop? 

A - Arms: Can they bring both arms up? Does one fall? 

S - Speech: Are they slurring or speaking strangely? 

T - Time: When any of these are occurring, summon an ambulance immediately. Not in five minutes. Right now.

Sign 1: Sudden Numbness/Weakness on one side.

This one is gentle at the start, almost like your arm fell asleep. However, when you experience numbness or weakness on one side of your face, arm, or leg abruptly, it is your brain bringing out the distress signal. Although it may go fast, brush it off, please.

Sign 2: Confusion That Comes Out of Nowhere

You can just be in the middle of a discussion, and then you cannot remember what you want to say. Alternatively, you may find yourself listening to someone speak without understanding them. That sudden thoughtlessness, disorientation, inability to speak, or inability to understand may indicate something serious in the brain.

Sign 3: Eye Vision Problems in either of the eyes.

Other individuals refer to it as a lid falling on one eye. Other people have double vision or sudden blurring. When you change your vision abruptly and with no apparent cause, it is something to be considered immediately.

Did You Know? A stroke on the right side of the brain may result in the loss of vision on the left side of the eye, and the opposite. Many people remain unaware of this connection.

Sign 4: The Worst Headache of Your Life.

When a person reports a headache that feels totally different than what he/she has ever had in his life, like sudden and sharp and without any warning, this is a major condition. Such a migraine may be an indication of a brain bleed, and urgent medical help must be provided.

Sign 5: Sudden Dizziness or Loss of Balance

Stumbling, the feeling that the room is spinning, and suddenly losing the ability to walk straight are not symptoms of tiredness alone. They may show a stroke, particularly when they occur without prior warning.

What Should You Do?

Call for help. Right away. Do not push the individual on; get an ambulance. During the waiting period, keep them calm, do not feed or give them anything to drink, and record the actual time when the symptoms appear; physicians will require this information.

At GKNM Hospital, our neurology and stroke care teams are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The faster you act, the more we can do. Please, never wait when it comes to stroke.