Stroke: First aid

Updated: 2024-11-06

A stroke occurs when there's bleeding in the brain or when blood flow to the brain is blocked. Within minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells start dying.

A stroke is a true emergency. The sooner a stroke is treated, the less damage may occur. Every moment counts.

When to seek emergency help

Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if you or someone you're with has signs or symptoms of a stroke.

Use F.A.S.T. to help remember warning signs.

• Face. Does the face droop on one side when the person tries to smile?
• Arms. Is one arm lower when the person tries to raise both arms? Is one arm weak or numb?
• Speech. Can the person repeat a simple sentence? Is speech slurred or hard to understand?
• Time. Every minute counts during a stroke. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if you see any of these signs.

Other stroke symptoms that come on suddenly and need emergency care include:

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including either leg.
• Confusion and having trouble speaking or understanding someone speaking.
• Having trouble seeing in one or both eyes. This may include dimming, blurring or loss of vision.
• Severe headache — a bolt out of the blue — with no known cause.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or a sudden fall.

Treatment

Don't drive to the hospital. Call 911 or your local emergency number and wait for healthcare professionals to arrive. They can begin lifesaving treatment right away. If someone you're with has signs of a stroke, stay with the person until an ambulance arrives.

Note the time when symptoms first appear. Share this information with emergency healthcare professionals when they arrive.

Prevention

You can lower your risk of having a second stroke by taking these steps:

• Get information on what caused your stroke. Talk with your healthcare professional about how to prevent a stroke from happening again.
• Take medicines recommended by your healthcare team.
• Manage your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.
• Stay active and exercise.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking if you smoke.
• Talk with your healthcare team about your treatment plan.
• Join programs to help you reach lifestyle goals or for education or counseling.