Signs, symptoms of stroke to keep in mind for National Stroke Awareness Month

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke; Every three and a half minutes, an individual loses their life. May is National Stroke Awareness Month, an important time discuss the signs, symptoms and treatment for stroke.

Here is some life-saving information from Mountainview Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces:

• What is a stroke and when does it happen?
  • A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This prevents the brain from getting oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes. Sudden bleeding in the brain can also cause a stroke if it damages brain cells.

• What some signs and symptoms?
  • Signs of a stroke can range from mild weakness to paralysis or numbness on one side of the face or body. Other signs include a sudden and severe headache, sudden weakness, trouble seeing, and trouble speaking or understanding speech. Time is critical because a stroke starves brain tissue of life-giving oxygen, causing it to start to die in as little as four minutes after the beginning of a stroke which can lead to severe disability and death. 

• What steps should people take if they think someone is having a stroke?
  • Use the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. B-Balance, E- is for Eyes so any blurred vision, F – is for face so any facial drooping, A – Arm so weakness in one arm or one side of the body, S – Slurred speech and T-is Time to call 9-1-1.

• How is a stroke diagnosed? What are some treatments?
  • Your doctor will diagnose a stroke based on your symptoms, your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Your doctor will want to find out the type of stroke you’ve had, its cause, the part of the brain that is affected, and whether you have bleeding in the brain. If your doctor thinks you’ve had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), he or she will look for its cause to help prevent a future stroke. Treatment can include medicines or medical procedures.

MountainView is now using a cutting-edge stroke drug recently rolled out which is already giving people a better chance at surviving a stroke. To learn more about their services, click here.