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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
  • A Medical Emergency
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Stroke Treatment

Call 911 if the person has:

  •  Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or legs -- especially on just one side of the body
  • Slurred or unusual speech
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Trouble walking, dizziness, or balance problems
  • Sudden confusion
  • Severe headache

1. Note Time When Symptoms First Appeared

  • Tell emergency personnel when you first noticed symptoms.
  • There is a medicine that may reduce long-term effects if given within three hours of the first symptom appearing.

 

2. Follow Up

  • If the person gets emergency care within the first several hours of stroke onset, the person may receive clot-busting drugs.
  • At the hospital, a doctor will examine the person and run tests to see if the stroke was caused by clots or from bleeding in the brain. Tests may include an MRI or a CT scan.
  • Treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes, and possibly surgery.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Andrew Seibert, MD on August 04, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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