Time is of the essence when it comes to identifying the signs of a stroke.
“A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain gets blocked by a blood clot,” said Dr. Teddy Wu. “When that happens, the brain cell does not get the oxygen and blood that it needs to survive.”
Wu is a Neurologist with Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Associates.
“We know that for every minute that goes by, the brain is not getting oxygen and blood flow and 2 million brain cells die. So, the quicker that we’re able to restore blood flow to the brain, the better chance that we’ll be able to minimize the amount of damage that the brain has.”
Brain function can be saved if you are having a stroke and get help quickly, so it is important to call 911 as soon as you think you or someone you know is showing symptoms of stroke.
Memorial Hermann Health Systems recommends two acronyms -- one in English, and one in Spanish -- that can be helpful for remembering the warning signs of a stroke and taking the appropriate action: BE FAST and RAPIDO.
Balance: Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
Eyes: Is there sudden double or blurred vision and/or sudden trouble seeing that persists?
Face: Ask the person to smile. Is one or both sides drooping?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward? Weakness or numbness on one side?
Speech: Does the person have slurred/garbled speech? Can he/she repeat simple phrase?
Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately and note time symptoms began.
R.A.P.I.D.O. is the Spanish equivalent. It stands for:
Rostro caído.
Alteración del equilibrio.
Pérdida de fuerza en un brazo.
Impedimento visual.
Dificultad para hablar.
Obtenga ayuda rápido.
To learn more about strokes, visit memorialhermann.org/stroke or call 713-222-2273.
For interesting myths on strokes, click here.
Houston Life’s Melanie Camp went to Memorial Hermann in Memorial City to learn the basics that could help save a life. Watch the video above.