Every second counts- May is stroke awareness month
Stroke is the #5 cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States.
Dr. Elizabeth Marriott, neurologist at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center and director of Aurora Health Care's stroke program, joined Bill Walsh live in-studio for the CBS 58 News at 4 to talk about some of the warning signs for a stroke.
Spotting a stroke and getting help immediately is the key to surviving one. Doctors would like you to remember the acronym FAST:
Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
Arm weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like \"The sky is blue.\" Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Dr. Marriott also talked about risk factors for stroke, and the best ways you can prevent yourself from ever getting one.You can also find more information here.