Regional Medical Center | Thrive for Life | Spring 2016

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FACE
Does one side of the face
droop? Is it numb? Can
the person smile? Is the
smile uneven?
A RM
Is one arm weak or
numb? Ask the person
to raise both arms. Does
one arm drift downward?
SPEECH
Can they correctly repeat
a simple sentence?
Is it slurred or hard to
understand?
TIME
Call 911 immediately, even
if the signs go away.
Note the time when the
first signs appeared. It
will help with treatment
options.
Source: American Stroke Association
F.A.S.T.
An easy way to remember
the sudden signs of stroke
Time is brain: Seconds count
When it comes to recognizing the signs of a stroke, remember this
message: Time is brain.
A stroke interrupts the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain.
Once the stroke starts, brain cells begin to die. However, fast medical
treatment can halt a stroke as it’s occurring.
Most strokes are caused by blood clots. If you get to the hospital
quickly, a clot-busting medication called tissue plasminogen activator,
or TPA, may help. TPA should be given within 4½ hours of a stroke’s
onset.
Call 911 at the first
sign of a stroke. Stroke
symptoms are sudden
and may include:
● ● Weakness or
numbness in the
face, arms or legs,
especially on one
side of the body.
● ● Trouble seeing out
of one or both eyes.
● ● Trouble talking or understanding what others are saying.
● ● Severe headache for no known reason.
● ● Confusion.
● ● Loss of coordination or balance.
Call RMC Neurology at 256-236-1303 to make an appointment
with Sharman Sanders, MD, or Jessica Vincent, MD, for your
neurological disorders and concerns.
For more information on strokes, visit .
Sources: American Stroke Association; National Institutes of Health
Play defense: Protect your skin from the sun
If you spend time outside, consider this a
must-do: Defend yourself against the sun’s
dangerous rays.
“Skin cancer is the most common
type of cancer,” says Shelley Ray, MD,
dermatologist. “But the good news is,
there are simple things you can do for
prevention or early detection so that it can
be effectively treated.”
To help protect your skin, experts advise
that you:
● ● Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an
SPF of 30 or more.
● ● Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
when the sun’s rays are strongest.
● ● Avoid tanning beds and deliberate tanning.
● ● Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses,
long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors.
● ● Examine your skin at least monthly.
Report suspicious or problem spots to
your doctor.
To learn more, visit
Source: American Academy of Dermatology
THINGS TO KNOW
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. To learn about
skin cancer screenings at Regional Medical Center, visit
.
Sharman
Sanders, MD
Neurology
Jessica Vincent, MD
Neurology
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