Last year, there were 795,000 reported cases of stroke in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association.
That's one stroke every 7 seconds.
Should you or a loved one experience a stroke, the greatest chance of achieving a positive outcome without permanent and far-reaching effects is to keep an eye out for symptoms and seek treatment immediately.
When it comes the watching for symptoms, act "F.A.S.T."
Facial drooping-Does one side of the face droop or feel numb? Try smiling to check.
Arm weakness-Is one are weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms and watch if one begins to drift down.
Speech difficulty-Is speech slurred or are they unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask them to repeat simple sentences like "the grass is green."
Time to call 9-1-1-If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms (even if they have gone away), call the ambulance and ensure they are transported to a hospital immediately.
Addressing the need for comprehensive stroke care, the McLaren Stroke Network at McLaren Macomb is the only hospital in Macomb County with interventional neurologists taking primary stroke calls 24/7.
To learn more about stroke care at McLaren Macomb, visit mclaren.org/macombstroke.