Stroke Education
What is a Stroke?
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.
Signs of a Stroke
F.A.S.T. Warning Signs
Use the letters in F.A.S.T. to spot a Stroke
F = Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A = Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
T = Time to call 911 – Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Call 911 immediately. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear.
Other Stroke Symptoms
Watch for Sudden:
NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause
Stroke Support Group
University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute
Date: Third Tuesday of every month
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Place: UM Rehab, Flynn Conference Center
Contact: Danielle Markovitz, 410-448-6821
2200 Kernan Drive
Baltimore, MD 21207
To learn more about this Stroke Support Group check out the link below.