Post by Editor on Apr 28, 2006 16:21:30 GMT -5
Because fewer than one in five Americans can identify even one stroke symtom, a new approach supported by the National Stroke Association has been adopted by the OSF Saint Francis Stroke Center.
The new easy to remember acronym uses the word "fast" to not only describe the signs, but emphasize the need to act quickly when a symptom is noted. According to the OSF Stroke Center's medical director, Dr. David Z. Wang, speed is critical. "If the warning signs are understood adn the patient can get to a hospital quickly, it may be possible to even reverse the stroke itself," he says. "This new approach can reduce the effects of stroke adn even save lives."
The signs of stroke, as described in the new F.A.S.T. acronym are:
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to hold both arms up evenly. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred or mixed up?
Time: If the person is showing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Brain cells are dying.
In addition to knowing the signs of a stroke, OSF Stroke Center also notes that strokes can be prevented. Among the actions that can be taken to reduce the chance of a stroke:
* Stop smoking
* Control cholesterol
* Control diabetes
* Control blood pressure
* Manage atrial fibrillation ( a condition in which the heart beats irregularly.)
For more information on stroke prevention, contact National Stroke Association at 1-800-STROKES. For a free FAST or stroke warning symptom wallet card, call 1-888-6ASK OSF. May is National Stroke Awareness Month.
The new easy to remember acronym uses the word "fast" to not only describe the signs, but emphasize the need to act quickly when a symptom is noted. According to the OSF Stroke Center's medical director, Dr. David Z. Wang, speed is critical. "If the warning signs are understood adn the patient can get to a hospital quickly, it may be possible to even reverse the stroke itself," he says. "This new approach can reduce the effects of stroke adn even save lives."
The signs of stroke, as described in the new F.A.S.T. acronym are:
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to hold both arms up evenly. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred or mixed up?
Time: If the person is showing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Brain cells are dying.
In addition to knowing the signs of a stroke, OSF Stroke Center also notes that strokes can be prevented. Among the actions that can be taken to reduce the chance of a stroke:
* Stop smoking
* Control cholesterol
* Control diabetes
* Control blood pressure
* Manage atrial fibrillation ( a condition in which the heart beats irregularly.)
For more information on stroke prevention, contact National Stroke Association at 1-800-STROKES. For a free FAST or stroke warning symptom wallet card, call 1-888-6ASK OSF. May is National Stroke Awareness Month.