Stroke symptoms are always an emergency

Strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States and cause the highest number of long-term disabilities. Once a blood vessel bursts or is blocked and oxygen stops flowing to the brain, time is ticking for a person’s future. Knowing how to spot the signs of a stroke can help save a life.

If you can remember the acronym BE FAST, you can remember these signs to watch for:

• Balance – Watch for a sudden loss of balance.
• Eyes – Is there a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes? Or double vision?
• Face – Ask the person to smile and check to see if one side of the face droops.
• Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms and see if one arm drifts downward.
• Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence and check to see if words are slurred or the sentence is repeated incorrectly.
• Time – If a person shows any of these symptoms, it is important to get to the hospital as quickly as possible, and immediately call 911.

McLaren Port Huron is a designated Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission and continues to provide cutting-edge, compassionate care to stroke patients. Learn more about the Stroke Center or our Emergency Center capabilities today.