A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off.Â
Â
Men face a higher overall risk of stroke than women and tend to experience strokes at a younger age.Â
Â
Recognizing Symptoms (BE FAST)
Stroke symptoms are generally the same for everyone. You can use the BE FAST memory tool to spot the signs:Â
- B - Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- E - Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- F - Face: Face drooping or numbness, often on one side.
- A - Arm: Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, usually on one side.
- S - Speech: Slurred speech or trouble talking and understanding.
- T - Time: Time to call 911 immediately if you see these signs.Â
Other signs include a sudden, severe headache with no known cause. For detailed insights on early warnings, visit Medical News Today. Additional overview and guidance are available at Stroke.org.Â
Major Risk Factors
About 80% of strokes are preventable by managing underlying health and lifestyle factors.
Â
Key Risks Include:Â
- High blood pressure (the leading cause)
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Diabetes and high cholesterol
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity and excess weight
- Age (risk increases significantly after age 55)Â
