Good Shepherd Medical Center – Longview

Would you know a stroke if you had one?

A stroke strikes FAST and you should too! Many people don’t know that being able to recognize and respond to stroke symptoms can save lives.

A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs. That’s why a stroke should be treated as an emergency.

Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you remember to think FAST. Use FAST to remember the warning signs:

F= Face, Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A= Arms, Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S= Speech, Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T= Time, If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Click here to learn more about stroke awareness.