According to the CDC, over 795,000 people have a stroke every year. It is very important to be able to quickly identify if this is happening to you or someone around you. Here are five critical symptoms to be on the lookout for when identifying a stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause

The best outcomes are normally seen if a patient is treated within three hours of symptoms starting. For this reason, it is important to write down the time symptoms were first seen. The CDC has come out with an “Act FAST” method to help identify if someone may be having a stroke. Here’s how you can act FAST:

F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?A: Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?T: Time – If you see any signs, call 911 right away.

To learn more about the recovery process after a stroke and how physical therapy can support stroke patients regain function and independence, click here.

If you or someone you know has recently experienced a stroke and would like to learn how our team can support a successful recovery, schedule a free assessment with a team near you. Free assessments are available in person and virtually through our telehealth platform.

Schedule a Free Assessment

*Per federal guidelines, beneficiaries of plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VHA and other federally funded plans are not eligible for free assessments.

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.

References:https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm#:~:text=Call%209%2D1%2D1%20immediately,headache%20with%20no%20known%20cause.