May is Stroke Awareness Month, a good time to think about how to identify if you (or someone you love) are suffering from a stroke. First, let’s identify exactly what is happening during a stroke.

Interrupted blood flow to a part of the brain from a blocked or burst blood vessel (that’s responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients) is the cause of a stroke. If a part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, brain cells start to die. Abilities such as memory, speech, or movement that are controlled by the part of the brain that died during a stroke are lost.

If you see someone having these symptoms, or if you experience them yourself, call 911 immediately. And remember the acronym FAST:

Face — Sign: facial drooping. Ask the person to smile.

Arm — Sign: arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms.

Speech — Symptom: speech difficulty. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

Time — If the person is experiencing these symptoms, it’s time to call 911 immediately.

Warning signs of a stroke are sudden and may include one or more symptoms like the following:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden difficulty raising one’s arm or grasping objects with one’s hand
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
• Sudden difficulty walking or keeping one’s balance
• Sudden numbness on one side of the body
• Sudden trouble seeing
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Here at Mount Sinai Medical Center, we have a support group for stroke survivors and their family. Feel free to reach out to become part of our support group family.