the warning signs of stroke

Time Lost is Brain Lost. Know the Warning Signs and Don’t Delay.
Call 9-1-1 immediately. Stroke is a Medical Emergency.

The warning signs of stroke are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of 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, severe headaches with no known cause

If someone experiences one or more of the warning signs of stroke, they need to obtain medical help immediately. Early intervention attempts to minimize brain injury, and preventive care may reduce the risk of stroke. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, high red blood cell counts and “temporary strokes” (transient ischemic attacks or TIAs), which can often precede a major stroke. Atrial fibrillation, a disorder in which the two small upper chambers of the heart – the atria – quiver instead of beating effectively, also puts a patient at increased risk for stroke.

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For more information, visit the American Heart Association's website at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053.

Click here to assess your risk of heart attack and stroke.

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