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Think You Are Having a Stroke? Call 718-387-1750 Immediately!

F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you’ll know that you need to call 718-387-1750 for help right away.

F- Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is his/her 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? 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?

T- Time to call 718-387-1750
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 718-387-1750 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

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Stroke Prevention Lifestyle Tips
If you’ve had a stroke, preventing a second one is of top priority. “The risk of a stroke is tenfold higher in someone who has had a stroke in the past,” says Larry B. Goldstein, MD, professor of medicine (neurology) and director of the Duke Stroke Center in Durham, N.C.

Prevention of a second stroke starts by addressing conditions that caused the first stroke, such as atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause blood to clot) or the narrowing of a carotid artery in the neck.

Treatment is also aimed at other factors that put you at risk, including high blood pressure or cholesterol and diabetes. But it takes more than just a doctor’s efforts. You also have an important role to play in preventing stroke. It’s up to you to make lifestyle changes that can lower your risk.

A stroke can be a devastating experience. Surviving it can be a powerful motivation to make lasting positive changes in your life. Take charge of your future by following these recommendations.

Prescription for Recurrent Stroke Prevention: Antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants are medicines that can help reduce the risk of a second ischemic stroke. These medicines interfere with the blood’s clotting action so that clots can’t form and cause a stroke. Aspirin is one of the most common, most effective, and least expensive types of antiplatelet medication.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

• Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
• Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

While the most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out. Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait – call 718-387-1750 or your emergency response number.

Asthma Attack

An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms caused by the tightening of muscles around your airways (bronchospasm). During the asthma attack, the lining of the airways also becomes swollen or inflamed and thick is produced.

All of these factors — bronchospasm, inflammation and mucus production — cause symptoms of an asthma attack such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities.

• Other symptoms of an asthma attack may include:
• Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
• Coughing that won’t stop
• Very rapid breathing
• Chest tightness or pressure
• Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
• Difficulty talking
• Feelings of anxiety or panic
• Pale, sweaty face
• Blue lips or fingernails
• Or worsening symptoms despite use of your medications

Call 718-387-1750 if you have any of these symptoms.

Some people with asthma may go for extended periods without having an asthma attack or other symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms, due to exposure to asthma triggers or perhaps from overdoing it as in exercise-induced asthma.