A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain cells start to die within minutes, which is why the single most important thing anyone can do is recognize the signs fast and get emergency help right away. If you think someone is having a stroke right now, stop reading and call 911.
Stroke Is a 911 Emergency, Not a Drive to the ER
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is clear on this: if you see the signs of a stroke, call 911 right away, and do not drive yourself or let someone else drive you. Paramedics can begin assessment and treatment on the way and take the patient to the hospital best equipped for stroke care. Calling 911 is faster and safer than any car ride, including a short drive to a nearby emergency room.
BE FAST: How to Spot a Stroke
The CDC uses the BE FAST check:
- B, Balance: Is the person suddenly off balance or dizzy?
- E, Eyes: Are they suddenly having trouble seeing?
- F, Face: Ask them to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A, Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S, Speech: Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T, Time: If you see any of these signs, call 911 right away.
Other Sudden Warning Signs
According to the CDC, the warning signs of stroke come on suddenly and include:
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
- A severe headache with no known cause
The word that matters in every one of these is sudden. A headache that builds over days is different from the worst headache of your life arriving in seconds. Our guides to a sudden headache and sudden vision loss explain those symptoms in more detail.
Why the Time Matters
Note the time the symptoms started, or the last time the person was seen acting normally, and tell the paramedics. The CDC explains that this helps doctors choose the best treatment, because the most effective stroke treatments are time-limited and work best in the first few hours after symptoms begin. Every minute of delay narrows the options.
What If the Symptoms Go Away?
Sometimes stroke symptoms last only a few minutes and then disappear. This can be a transient ischemic attack, sometimes called a mini-stroke, and it is a warning that a stroke may follow. Symptoms that went away still need emergency evaluation. Call 911 while they are happening, and if they have already passed, get checked the same day rather than waiting to see if they return.
Who Is at Higher Risk
Stroke can happen at any age, but the CDC lists several conditions that raise the risk, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking, and a previous stroke or mini-stroke. High blood pressure is one of the most important to control. Read more about high blood pressure and when it becomes an emergency.
Symptoms That Can Look Like a Stroke
Low blood sugar, a seizure, a severe migraine, and some infections can cause weakness, confusion, or trouble speaking that looks like a stroke. You do not need to tell the difference yourself. Sudden weakness, shaking, or confusion always deserves emergency care, and our page on tremors and weakness covers some of those causes.
Emergency Care in Sugar Land
For stroke signs, call 911 first. For other sudden or worrying symptoms, Sugar Land ER is open 24 hours a day, every day, with board-certified emergency physicians and on-site imaging including CT. Call (281) 697-5250 with questions about our services. If symptoms are sudden or severe, call 911 instead of driving.
