Do You Know the Signs of a Stroke? Think FAST

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. If someone you care for was experiencing a stroke, would you know how to spot the signs?

There’s now an easy way to remember the signs of a stroke, and it’s called F.A.S.T. Here’s what F.A.S.T. stands for, according to the National Stroke Association:

F: Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A: Arms. Ask the person to raise their arms. Does one arm face downward.

S: Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T: Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Getting rapid treatment for stroke can make a difference in survival. There are now effective treatments for stroke, but the person needs to receive the treatments quickly. Without rapid treatment, someone having a stroke can die.

Other stroke symptoms include a sudden headache with an unknown cause, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and confusion, among other symptoms shared by the National Stroke Association.

For stroke prevention, make sure that your loved one’s health professionals help monitor for the risk of stroke. Certain factors, such as older age, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, smoking, and drinking excessive alcohol all can raise one’s risk for stroke. However, stroke may affect even those who you may not suspect—such as the recent deaths of actor Luke Perry and director John Singleton, both only in their early 50s.

Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management

At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors.

Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.

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