Would you recognise the early signs of a stroke?

The Stroke Foundations teaches that the F.A.S.T. test offers an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke.
Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:

Face	Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?   In a stroke, sometimes, one side of the face goes slack. …
Arm	Can they lift both arms?   A key symptom is that one arm is weak or when raising both arms, one arm drifts downward or is numb.
Speech	Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?   Speech difficulties are a sign of stroke.
Time	Sudden vision trouble, dizziness, loss of balance, or sudden and severe headache can also be warning signs.Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away.

And it is worth noting that there is never a stroke that should be ignored.  Even if the symptoms don’t cause pain, seek medical attention immediately.   If you recognise the signs of stroke?  Call 000. A stroke happens when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Blood is carried to the brain by blood vessels called arteries. Blood contains oxygen and important nutrients for your brain cells. Blood may be interrupted or stop moving through an artery, because the artery is blocked (ischaemic stroke) or bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). When brain cells do not get enough oxygen or nutrients, they die. The area of brain damage is called a cerebral infarct.Brain cells usually die shortly after the stroke starts. However, some can last a few hours, if the blood supply is not cut off completely. If the blood supply can be returned in the minutes and hours after the stroke, some of these cells may recover. If not, they will also die.  This is why it is so important to seek treatment for stroke symptoms immediately.

 

Lower your risk of stroke now Stroke risk rises with age, and there is much you can do to lower your risk. A heart-healthy diet and lifestyle is essential. This includes: If you smoke, please stop. Do something active for at least 30 minutes per day on most days of the week. Lose weight, if you are overweight. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy products and reduce consumptions of meats, sweets, and refined grains (such as white bread or white rice). Eat less salt (sodium). Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than two standard alcoholic drinks per day for a man and one for women.

For more information about Stroke, visit http://strokefoundation.com.au/.