Stroke Awareness Month
June is Stroke Awareness Month, and West Bay Pharmacy would like to take a moment to remind our customers of the steps for recognizing a stroke.
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you’ll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away. F.A.S.T. is:
F: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T: Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Preventing a Stroke
Certain risk factors can increase your chances of having a stroke. If you have identified personal risk factors, we urge you to work with your healthcare provider to reduce your personal risk.
Sources: National Stroke Association, American Stroke Association
