How To Recognize Stroke Signs, Save A LIfe

News of Senator Mark Kirk’s stroke was a surprise to most people, especially given that he is an otherwise healthy adult who does not seem the typical stroke patient. The physicians who treated him acted quickly to save his life, and it was their actions that helped move him forward in his recovery.  He is fortunate that his stroke was on the right side, which is the non-dominant side of his brain. Everyone is praying for his rapid recovery.

The news also brings to mind the critical importance of understanding the signs of stroke, in the same way that the general public now so easily identifies heart attack symptoms. Rapid recognition when someone is experiencing a stroke can make the difference in their recovery and, sometimes, their survival.

Signs of Stroke

Like most hospitals, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital utilizes the Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale or FAST to determine if an individual is suffering a stroke. This checklist helps to determine whether a stroke is impacting one side of the body, which is a common sign of stroke.

• Face: In most people, both sides of the face move in the tandem with each other. When a person is suffering a stroke, one side of the face can droop or not move at all. Asking the person to smile will help determine if the sides of the face are uneven.
• Arm: Similar to the two sides of the face, both arms should be able to move in the same way. Ask the person to raise both arms to identify if one side has less mobility than the other.
• Speech: Often during a stroke, people will suddenly lose the ability to speak clearly, or their speech will not sound like words at all. Ask the person to repeat a sentence or phrase and listen for slurring or unusual speech patterns.
• Time: Just like in the case of Senator Kirk, timely treatment is a key factor in a patient’s prognosis. At the first sign of stroke, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Are You At Risk?

If you are a man aged 50 or older with a family history of stroke, your risk of suffering a stroke is automatically higher.  A history of mini-strokes, or TIA’s (transient ischemic attacks); or a previous heart attack further increases your risk. It is important for you to follow a healthy lifestyle and see your doctor regularly so that any warning signs are identified and addressed.  Over the age of 50, an evaluation of blood pressure, cholesterol, arrhythmias, and even a carotid screening can help with early detection of proclivity for stroke.

Other risk factors that can be avoided or treated include:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Smoking

And, remember that eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help to reduce your risk by decreasing cholesterol-causing plaque in blood vessels and maintaining good blood flow through your brain.

It’s your life. Our goal is to help you make it as high quality and long-lasting as possible.

Martin D. Herman, M.D., Ph.D, is in the neurosurgery department at

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