DIABETICS AND STROKE

Did you know that diabetics are more likely to have a stroke than the general population? Since immediate care after a stoke is urgent, it is important to know the signs of stroke. Remember the word FAST to help you remember the signs. They are:

Face: Numbness in the face, changes in vision, uneven smile

Arm & Leg: Weakness or numbness, trouble walking

Speech: Slurred Speech, Inappropriate words, Mute (words won't come)

Time: Time is of the essence; call 911 at the first signs!

Did you know stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States?

Approximately 800,000 suffer a stroke each year.

There is one drug that can reverse symptoms and reduce long-term disability in those who suffer an ischemic stroke (abstruction of blood flow to the brain). However it must be administered within 3 hours of symptoms and test must be run to determine if the stroke was ischemic before the drugs can be administered. Thus, the need for getting to a hospital immediately.

F.A.S.T. stands for:

Face drooping—Can the person smile normally, or does one side of the face droop?

Arm weakness—When the person raises both arms, does one drift downward?

Speech difficulty—Can the person speak normally, or is speech slurred?

Time to call 911—If you see or experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. A person does not have to be experiencing all these symptoms to be having a stroke. Any one symptom is enough to call 911 immediately. The faster treatment can be started, the better.

This is a repeat of a post I made in August. I was able to clean it up a bit, making it easier to read.