Now that you know causes of stroke and that stroke is leading in Millennials and Generation X, lets look at the signs of stroke. If you are aware of the stroke acronyms FAST and BEFAST, you be wondering what this infographic is a about.
FAST is for;
I prefer the posted infographic, because, like me, many stroke victims did not have the FAS part of FAST. In fact, I did not have any of those signs, so I did not do the T and yet drove myself to the ER. As with many, I had numbness on one side of my body and a severe headache. I was also very anxious and my heart was racing. So, don't get stuck on FAST or BEFAST. I have heard from some people that they became unconscious, even waking up days and weeks later having been in a coma, remembering nothing or very little. The one thing that can't be agreed on is that when a stroke occurs, TIME is of the ESSENCES. There are interventions that can reduce or even reverse the outcome of stroke if treated within less than 3 hours of first onset. Since stroke signs can be from standard to obscure, most people don't realize they are having a stroke nor do they get conformation within that time frame. I always say...if in doubt, check it out. I hope you will pass this on to the people you know and those you love. There is no one whom has had a stroke whose life is not changed forever, in one way or another. Help me spread the word about stroke. This is a little question without a simple answer. With stroke being down over all but up in the age group of 18-54, causes of stroke vary greatly. We know that strokes can happen when the blood supply to the brain is reduced (Ischemic Stroke) or interrupted (Hemorrhagic Stroke). This deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients leaving brain cells dead, within minutes. Some people have what is called a TIA/ Transient Ischemic Attack, or mini stroke, which tends to be a very short temporary blockage that resolves itself and doesn't leave permanent brain damage. TIA's can be a precursor to a full on brain attack and should be treated seriously. BUT why does this happen is the BIG question.
Here are some reason known to cause stroke. It is not as if these are steadfast, sure-fire reasons for a stroke, but they can increase a person's likelihood. Keep in mind, some of these issues can be changed and some may not.
Now that you have a clearer picture of the causes of stroke, come back next time as I teach how to recognize a stroke. |