CENTRE, ALA., May 22, 2026 – May is Stroke Awareness Month and now is a good time to better understand stroke, how to recognize when a stroke may be happening and steps to take now to help prevent a stroke in the future.
“Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States,” said Dr. Michael Gonsalves, Atrium Health Floyd family medicine physician. “Timing of stroke treatment can make all the difference in the outcome. If proper stroke treatment is administered quickly, damage to the brain can be minimized.”
The beginning of a stroke can sometimes be recognized, and the BE FAST acronym is a great way to remember those symptoms, Dr. Gonsalves said.
- Balance: Loss of coordination or difficulty walking
- Eyes: Sudden blurred or double vision or sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Face: Drooping of one side of the face.
- Arms: Hold both arms up in front of you, if one arm drifts downward outside your control, this can also be a sign that a stroke is happening.
- Speech: Slurred, strange or unintelligible speech, including using words inappropriately.
- Terrible headache/Time to call 911: Individuals with any of the above symptoms or a sudden, intense headache should quickly call 911. Time is of the essence when treating stroke.
Treatment with clot-busting drugs and advanced stroke treatment can improve outcomes, but Dr. Gonsalves also emphasized that 80% of strokes can be prevented.
“There are steps patients can take today to reduce their risk of stroke,” Dr. Gonsalves said. “Get regular checkups and let your provider know if a family member has a history of stroke. Managing chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol can also help. Finally, when you maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly and limit alcohol consumption you are building defenses against stroke.”
Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic physicians are located throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Video visit options and virtual primary care are also available. Visit atriumhealthfloydharbin.org for more information.
