May is Stroke Awareness Month, and Montgomery County Memorial Hospital is reminding area residents that quick action can make a major difference when stroke symptoms appear
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. An ischemic stroke is caused by a clot, while a hemorrhagic stroke involves bleeding in the brain. She said ischemic strokes are far more common, making up about 87% of strokes.
One of the biggest messages from the discussion was the importance of remembering BE FAST: Balance, Eyes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911. Runyon said symptoms are usually sudden and different from a person’s normal baseline. Even if symptoms go away, they may still indicate a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, sometimes called a mini stroke. She noted that one in five people who have a TIA will go on to have a full ischemic stroke within 90 days, with nearly half of those happening within the first 48 hours
The key reminder: when stroke symptoms appear, do not wait. BE FAST and call 911.
