Quick summary
According to the American Heart Association, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds. But there's good news: Even if your parent suffers a stroke, immediate treatment can greatly reduce the damage. For many strokes, treatment with intravenous clot-busting drugs can make a significant difference. The catch? These drugs need to be administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms . And the sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome.
To give your parent the best possible chance of recovery, you should familiarize yourself with the warning signs of stroke. Remember that not all strokes are the same -- even if one of your parents has had a stroke before, a second stroke or a stroke in your other parent might not have the same symptoms.
Back to TopWhat to do if your parents shows signs of having a stroke
Your parent may try to downplay the situation because he's embarrassed and doesn't want to cause a scene for no reason. Take charge and call for help even if he tries to talk you out of it. Don't wait to see if his symptoms go away -- and call even if his symptoms suddenly disappear. He may be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, which is itself a warning sign that a full-blown stroke may be on the horizon.
If you notice one or more of the following stroke signs, call 911 right away. Make a note of the exact time when symptoms began; this information can be extremely helpful for the emergency room personnel.
Back to TopStroke sign #1: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg -- especially on one side of the body
You may notice that your parent's mouth suddenly looks "uneven." Ask him to smile and see if one side droops. He may have difficulty moving his arm or controlling his fingers. Have him close his eyes and raise both arms to see if one of them drifts downward.
Back to TopStroke sign #2: Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Language problems are among the most common signs of stroke. Your parent may suddenly begin slurring his speech or have trouble speaking. He may not be able to understand what you're saying to him. Ask him to repeat a simple sentence back to you, such as "I went to the store today." If he has difficulty getting the words out, the cause could be a stroke.
Back to TopStroke sign #3: Sudden vision trouble in one or both eyes
Your parent may not be able to see clearly out of one eye, or he may have difficulty looking to the right or left. He may complain of blurry or double vision. Vision problems that come on suddenly is a common stroke symptom.
Back to TopStroke sign #4: Sudden difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness
Walking as if intoxicated, stumbling, or even falling down are all stroke symptoms. Your parent may walk with his legs spread apart. Another stroke symptom is sudden loss of fine motor ability, such as inability to write.
Back to TopStroke sign #5: Sudden severe headache with no known cause
A headache is not necessarily a stroke symptom. But if a headache strikes unexpectedly or seems unusually intense, it's reason for concern. If a stiff neck, facial pain, or vomiting accompanies the headache, the cause could be an intracranial hemorrhage, also known as a "red stroke."
Not all of these warning signs occur with every stroke. Don't ignore stroke symptoms even if they disappear. And don't let your parent talk you out of calling 911. Tell him you understand that he's upset, but you're going to call anyway because you love him. The most precious gift you can give someone who's having a stroke is immediate treatment.
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