Stroke Warning Signs

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

CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms!

*Information from the American Stroke Association Website January, 2005

Type of Strokes

Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty deposits lining the vessel walls. This condition is called atherosclerosis.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. Two types of weakened blood vessels usually cause hemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are minor or warning strokes. In a TIA, conditions indicative of an ischemic stroke are present and the typical stroke warning signs develop. However, the obstruction (blood clot) occurs for a short time and tends to resolve itself through normal mechanisms.

*Information from the American Stroke Association Website January, 2005

National Stroke Statistics

• Stroke is America 's 3rd leading cause of death
• Stroke is a leading cause of severe long term physical and mental disability
• Every 45 seconds someone in America has a stroke
• 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year
• In 2004 the estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke is $53.6 billion

*Information from the American Stroke Association Website January, 2005

To learn more about stroke, visit the American Stroke Association website