Understanding Head Strokes: Symptoms, Causes & What to Do (F.A.S.T.)

Head strokes happen when an artery or blood vessel becomes blocked by a clot and keeps blood from reaching the brain. This causes brain cells to die, which can have mild or debilitating results.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of a head stroke develop suddenly. They include numbness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body. Confusion, visual impairment, difficulty speaking, dizziness and severe headache are other symptoms.

F.A.S.T.

• The National Stroke Association suggests you act F.A.S.T. if you suspect someone is having a stroke. F.A.S.T. stands for face, arms, speech and time. Look for droopiness of the face, inability to keep the arms elevated at the same level and slurred speech. If any of these symptoms are occurring, time is of the essence. Call 911 immediately.

Prevention

• According to the National Stroke Association, 80 percent of stokes can be prevented by stopping smoking, keeping an eye on your blood pressure, exercising and watching your cholesterol levels.

Risks

• Strokes have two types of risk factors: controllable and uncontrollable. Controllable risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Examples of uncontrollable risk include age, gender, race and family history.

Recovery

• Recovery will include rehabilitation to relearn skills like eating and walking.