Every Minute Counts with Onset of Stroke Symptoms
ROCHESTER, MINN. -- The success of stroke treatment depends on how soon you are seen by a medical professional after symptoms or signs begin, according to the Medical Essay on stroke, a supplement to the February issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Stroke occurs when the supply of blood that constantly nourishes the brain is somehow altered. As a result, brain tissues either are deprived of oxygen and nutrients or drown in blood.
Call 911 or the emergency number in your area if you or someone near you experiences one or a combination of these symptoms.
* Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, usually on only one side of the body
* Difficulty speaking or trouble understanding others
* Blurred, decreased or double vision or loss of visual field
* Dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
* A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache or unusual headache, which may be accompanied by a stiff neck, facial pain, pain between the eyes, vomiting or altered consciousness
* Confusion, problems with memory, spatial orientation or perception
* Seizures, fainting or blacking out
The warnings may be temporary, lasting from a few minutes to 24 hours. But even short-term symptoms predict a high risk of future stroke and should be treated seriously.
Shelly Plutowski507-284-5005(days)507-284-2511 (evenings)e-mail: [email protected]
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