In this Article

• What is a stroke?
• What causes a stroke?
• What are the risk factors for stroke?
• What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
• What is the impact of strokes?
• What are stroke symptoms?
• What should be done if you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke?
• How is a stroke diagnosed?
• What is the treatment of a stroke?
• What complications can occur after a stroke?
• What can be done to prevent a stroke?
• What is in the future for stroke treatment?
• Stroke At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Stroke - Symptoms Experienced
• Stroke Glossary
• Stroke Index

What should be done if you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke?

If any of the symptoms mentioned above suddenly appear, emergency medical attention should be sought. Therefore, the first action should be to call 911 (or whatever number activates the emergency medical response in your area). The family doctor and/or neurologist should also be contacted. However, the first priority is ensuring that the ambulance arrives as soon as possible.

• The affected person should lie flat to promote an optimal blood flow to the brain.
  
  
• If drowsiness, unresponsiveness, or nausea are present, the person should be placed in the rescue position on their side to prevent choking should vomiting occur.
  
  
• Although aspirin plays a major role in stroke prevention (see below), once the symptoms of a stroke begin, it is generally recommended that additional aspirin not be taken until the patient receives medical attention. If stroke is of the bleeding type, aspirin could theoretically make matters worse.

Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS)

According to a study by the University of North Carolina, three commands may be used to assess whether a person may be experiencing a stroke. Lay persons can command a potential stroke victim to:

1. Smile
   
   
2. Raise both arms
   
   
3. Speak a simple sentence

The three commands, known as the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS), are used by health professionals as a simple first step in the assessment process for signs of stroke. If a person has trouble with any of these simple commands, emergency services (911) should be called immediately with a description of the situation, noting that you suspect the individual is having a stroke.

Stroke - Symptoms Experienced

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