What are the signs and symptoms of stroke, and what to do if it happens

2023-04-17 19:03:47

Former federal minister and mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre suffered a stroke over the weekend. What are the warning signs? What should or should not be done if someone close to us has a stroke? We take stock.

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What are the signs and symptoms of stroke?

The symptoms are:

Weakness on one side of the body.
Numbness or tingling in the face, arms or legs.
Difficulty speaking or understanding what others are saying.
Vision problems, such as double vision or the inability to see, especially in one eye.
A sudden, severe headache (usually occurs at the same time as other symptoms).
Balance problems.

These symptoms may come on suddenly or may come and go for a few days.

Remember the signs of stroke

To make sure you recognize the signs of stroke, remember the acronym FAST.

Visage: is it saggy?
Inability: can the person raise both arms normally?
Speech disorder: does the person have trouble pronouncing the words?
Extreme urgency: dial 911.

SCREENSHOT/HEART AND STROKE

Who is at risk?

Everyone is at risk of having a stroke. Indeed, “although the risk of stroke increases with age, even young people can experience one,” recalls the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Mini-strokes, it can be

A person can also experience a mini-stroke.

“This phenomenon occurs when a blood vessel is briefly blocked by a small clot,” says the Public Health Agency of Canada. A person who suffers a mini-stroke will feel the effects for less than 24 hours.

Even if the symptoms disappear quickly, a medical professional should be contacted. If the mini-stroke is not treated, the person is at risk of having a stroke within five years.

What to do if a person seems to be having a stroke?

If you or someone you are with has any of the symptoms of a stroke, call 911. Symptoms don’t always appear all at once.

It is important to get medical help within the first four and a half hours after a stroke. Within this period, it is often possible to take medication that can reduce or even reverse the effects of the stroke.