A stroke is a sudden interruption in blood supply to the brain. Most strokes are caused by a blockage in the arteries leading to the brain. But they can also be caused by bleeding in the brain. A stroke can happen very suddenly but there are some ways to spot it, using the B.E. F.A.S.T. method.
B.E. F.A.S.T.
Balance- dizziness and loss of balance or coordination
Eyes- trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
Face- weakness of the face such as uneven smile
Arm- Weakness of the arms, unable to raise arms evenly
Speech- Slurred speech and difficulty repeating simple phrases
Time- If you notice these symptoms act fast and call 911 immediately
Strokes can be life threatening and cause irreversible harm such as disabilities, paralysis, and memory loss. But there are ways to help prevent a stroke from occurring, one of the main ways is by living a healthy lifestyle.
- Eat a healthy diet- eating healthy reduces your risk of obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. All these conditions increase your chances of having a stroke.
- Exercise- exercise is another good way to reduce your risk for stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
- Quit smoking- the risk of a stroke is twice as high for smokers than nonsmokers.
- Control your alcohol consumption- excessive drinking can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of a stroke.
- Manage your medical conditions- many medical conditions can increase your chances of having a stroke. Including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, diabetes, and carotid artery disease.
- Recognizing the symptoms- be aware of the symptoms we just talked about in the B.E. F.A.S.T. method.