SATURDAY, Nov. 20, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Quick action is essential when someone is having a stroke.
Treatment for ischemic stroke -- which occurs when a clot or blocked artery cuts off blood flow to part of the brain -- is usually effective only when given within three hours of the first stroke symptoms, says an article in the November issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Here are five warning signs of stroke that indicate a person needs immediate medical attention:
- Confusion or trouble breathing or understanding.
- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or legs, especially on one side of the body.
- Trouble with vision in both eyes.
- Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
- Severe headache with no apparent cause.
Even if a person has just one of these symptoms, you should call for emergency help, the article said. If a person is having a stroke, he or she may not understand what's happening or may not be able to call for help.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about signs of a stroke.
