The Difference Between Stroke and TIA

According to the CDC, Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Americans and the leading cause of serious disability for adults. But did you know it's possible to suffer from a stroke without showing any of the FAST symptoms? Dr. James Bernheimer, Director of GBMC's Stroke program explains why.



Recognizing a stroke early and immediately calling 911 is critical to a person's outcome. When it comes to stroke, remember to think F.A.S.T. and use the following acronym provided by the American Stroke Association to quickly identify stroke symptoms in yourself or others:

• Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
• Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• Time to call 911: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Other stroke symptoms come on suddenly and include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache.