Stroke

Sam Kosmacki, Alexis Scalise, Maddy Moore

What is a Stroke?

● #5 cause of death and leading cause of disability in the United States

● Occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes blocked by a clot or it ruptures
○ Brain is not receiving the oxygen it needs so it begins to die
○ Other parts of the body do not work as they should because the brain is not receiving an efficient blood supply

● Types of Strokes:
○ Ischemic Stroke (clot blocks oxygen to the brain)
○ Hemorrhagic Stroke (rupturing of blood vessel stopping blood from getting to brain)
○ Transient Ischemic Attack (“mini-stroke” -- caused by temporary clot)
Signs and Symptoms

●Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
●Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
●Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
●Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
●Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
●Signs for men and women are typically the same
●Women can also experience:
○General weakness
○Disorientation and confusion or memory problems
●Fatigue, nausea or vomiting

https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm
How Long Does it Last?

● Can last anywhere from a few minutes to over 24 hours

● Transient ischemic attacks are mini strokes that typically last for a few
minutes, but can take a few hours for symptoms to improve
● Symptoms can be long- or short-lasting depending on the type of stroke
What do I do?

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. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

-Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-
saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm
Should I call 911?

-call 911 right away if you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm
Sources

● About stroke. www.stroke.org. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke.
● Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, August 28). Stroke signs and symptoms. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm.