Talking to some of my friends of a variety of ages, I was surprised to find something out. Very few of them (let’s say roughly 2 in 10) knew the signs of a stroke and what to do if they, or someone else, was experiencing one. Maybe it was growing up in a family where both my parents worked in fields related to healthcare, but I always just assumed it was common knowledge.

I’m a little terrified to think that this lack of knowledge likely extends beyond my sample grouping and into the general population, especially since there are between 40,000 to 50,000 strokes in Canada each year; it’s actually the fourth leading cause of death. So this week, I’m going to walk you through the signs and symptoms of a stroke, what to do if you suspect you or another person is having a stroke, and give you some helpful facts to remember.

Signs and Symptoms

Although the signs and symptoms of a stroke will vary from person to person, there are 5 key symptoms that most stroke victims will display:

Headache – This headache will come on suddenly and be severe

Vision problems – Again, this will come on suddenly. The vision problems may even disappear after a few minutes

Trouble Speaking – The person may seem confused and have trouble speaking individual words or attempting to put sentences together. In some cases they may be able to speak, but what they’re saying won’t make sense.

Dizziness – There will likely be a sudden loss of balance; this often makes it difficult for the person to remain standing without help

Weakness – The person is likely to show weakness or drooping on one side of their body; that side of the body, or certain parts of it, may even feel numb to the person.

Often if you’re looking for a quick visual cue of a stroke, asking the person to smile may give you the clarification you need. Likely they will have difficulties raising one side of their mouth which can be a distinct indicator of a stroke.

What to Do

If you so much as suspect that a person may be experiencing a stroke – for example, if they are only displaying a few of the 5 symptoms listed above—seek medical attention, immediately. Do not wait to see if the symptoms get worse.

If you are the one experiencing the stroke, do not drive or walk yourself to the hospital. Have someone who is with you take you. If you are alone, call 9-1-1.

By immediately responding to the warning signs of stroke the persons’ chance of survival drastically increases. Clot busting drugs are most affective within the first three and a half hours from the on-set of a stroke. How early you are treated is also directly related to how well your body is able to recover post-stroke.

Some Facts you Should Know

Of every 100 people who have a stroke:

15 die (15%)

10 recover completely (10%)

25 recover with a minor impairment or disability (25%)

40 are left with a moderate to severe impairment (40%)

10 are so severely disabled they require long-term care (10%)

After age 55, the risk of stroke doubles every 10 years.

A stroke survivor has a 20% chance of having another stroke within 2 years.

About 300,000 Canadians are living with the effects of stroke