Is there a history of stroke in your family? As stroke is the third leading killer in the United States, there is a good chance someone in your family has suffered from a stroke. The likelihood of having a stroke is one and a quarter times greater for men than women, but the odds even out as people get older. The control of high blood pressure is the best thing you can do to help prevent a stroke from stealing your life.
As someone who’s charged with the care of another, it’s important to know the warning signs of a stroke so you can take immediate action. The sooner a stroke victim receives medical attention, the better chance he has of recovery and survival.
Use the mnemonic device “FAST” to remember the checklist:
If your parent complains of a sudden weakness or numbness, loses vision in one or both eyes, has a sudden and severe headache or loses his balance, follow the FAST outline and call 911.
My father had a stroke. It was very near the end of his life and happened while he was already in the hospital for a medication adjustment. His dementia was becoming more severe and we decided to work on changing his medication while he was in an in-patient environment. My sister and I met with the doctor around lunchtime and reviewed the list of meds he was taking, and discussed what changes could possibly be made to help him have a better quality of life.
We didn’t get to visit with him while we were there because he was sleeping. I remember thinking that his breathing didn’t sound quite right, but the hospital staff wasn’t concerned, so I didn’t say anything. Don’t ever repeat my reluctance to speak up – it can mean the difference between life and death. If you suspect something is wrong, seek assistance and be persistent until you are taken seriously.
As someone who’s charged with the care of another, it’s important to know the warning signs of a stroke so you can take immediate action. The sooner a stroke victim receives medical attention, the better chance he has of recovery and survival.
Use the mnemonic device “FAST” to remember the checklist:
- F: FACE – Ask your parent to smile. Does one side droop?
- A: ARMS – Ask him or her to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
- S: SPEECH – Ask a simple question. Does he or she seem confused? Is the
speech slurred or unusual? - T: TIME – Don’t waste time! Call 911 right away if you observe any problems.
If your parent complains of a sudden weakness or numbness, loses vision in one or both eyes, has a sudden and severe headache or loses his balance, follow the FAST outline and call 911.
My father had a stroke. It was very near the end of his life and happened while he was already in the hospital for a medication adjustment. His dementia was becoming more severe and we decided to work on changing his medication while he was in an in-patient environment. My sister and I met with the doctor around lunchtime and reviewed the list of meds he was taking, and discussed what changes could possibly be made to help him have a better quality of life.
We didn’t get to visit with him while we were there because he was sleeping. I remember thinking that his breathing didn’t sound quite right, but the hospital staff wasn’t concerned, so I didn’t say anything. Don’t ever repeat my reluctance to speak up – it can mean the difference between life and death. If you suspect something is wrong, seek assistance and be persistent until you are taken seriously.