You probably know the symptoms of a heart attack, but it's just as important to know the symptoms of a stroke. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of a stroke may minimize damage to brain tissue and improve the chances of survival. Here's advice from Johns Hopkins.

Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Since drug therapy is most likely to be effective within the first three hours of stroke onset, getting to the hospital as soon as symptoms start is essential. Listed below are the symptoms of a stroke, as well as actions to take.

Symptoms of a Stroke:

• Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
• Sudden loss, blurring, or dimness of vision
• Mental confusion, loss of memory, or sudden loss of consciousness
• Slurred speech, loss of speech, or problems understanding other people
• A sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause
• Unexplained dizziness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, or falls
• Nausea and vomiting, especially when accompanied by any of the above symptoms.

Actions to Take:

• Stay calm, but don’t downplay any of the symptoms or hesitate to take prompt action.
• Call or have someone call an ambulance. (Dial 911 in most parts of the United States.) Be sure to give your name, telephone number, and exact whereabouts.
• While waiting for the ambulance, the person having stroke symptoms should be made as comfortable as possible and should not eat or drink anything other than water.
• If an ambulance cannot arrive for an extended period of time, a family member, neighbor, or someone else should drive the stroke patient to the hospital. Under no circumstances should the person experiencing the stroke symptoms drive.
• Notify the stroke patient’s doctor. The doctor can provide the hospital with the patient’s medical history, which may be important for determining the best type of treatment.

At the hospital, be sure to list any medical conditions the stroke patient has (for example, high blood pressure or diabetes), any allergies the patient has (particularly to medication), and any medications the patient is currently taking.

Used with Permission. Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, posted in Hypertension and Stroke, www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/hypertension_stroke/, June 17, 2008.