First Aid during Stroke or Brain Attack

A stroke occurs when there’s bleeding into your brain or when normal blood flow to your brain is blocked. Within minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells start dying — a process that may continue over the next several hours.

Seek immediate medical assistance immediately. A stroke is a true emergency. The sooner treatment is given, the more likely it is that damage can be minimized. Every moment counts. In the event of a possible stroke, use FAST to help remember warning signs.

· Face. Does the face droop on one side while trying to smile?

· Arms. Is one arm lower when trying to raise both arms?

· Speech. Can a simple sentence be repeated? Is speech slurred or strange?

· Time. During a stroke every minute counts. If you observe any of these signs, Bring patient to nearest hospital.

Other signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

· Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including either leg

· Blurring or loss of vision, particularly in one eye

· Severe headache — a bolt out of the blue — with no apparent cause

· Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially if accompanied by any of the other signs or symptoms

Some of the risk factors for stroke include having high blood pressure, having had a previous stroke, smoking, having diabetes and having heart disease.