May is National Stroke Awareness Month, an important time to educate patients, families, and communities about one of the most urgent neurological emergencies. A stroke can happen suddenly, and every minute matters. Recognizing the warning signs and getting emergency care quickly can reduce the risk of long-term disability and may save a life.
At First Choice Neurology, our neurologists diagnose, treat, and manage stroke-related conditions across 12 Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, Hillsborough, Columbia, Indian River, St. Lucie, Brevard, Alachua, Pasco, and Collier counties. Our goal is to help patients understand their stroke risk, recognize symptoms early, receive timely care, and recover with the support of 60+ experienced neurology providers.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. When brain cells are damaged, the effects can be serious and may impact movement, speech, vision, memory, balance, or cognitive function.
There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke is the most common type and occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing bleeding in or around the brain.
A transient ischemic attack, often called a TIA or “mini-stroke,” happens when stroke-like symptoms occur temporarily. Even if symptoms go away, a TIA should be treated as a medical emergency because it may be a warning sign of a future stroke.
Stroke Awareness: Know the Signs, Act FAST
Knowing the signs of stroke can help you act quickly. The American Stroke Association recommends remembering BE FAST: Balance loss, Eye or vision changes, Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911.
Common stroke symptoms include:
- Balance problems – sudden dizziness, loss of coordination, or trouble walking
- Eye or vision changes – sudden blurred vision, double vision, or trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Face drooping – one side of the face may droop or feel numb
- Arm weakness – sudden weakness or numbness in one arm, leg, or one side of the body
- Speech difficulty – slurred speech, confusion, or trouble understanding words
- Time to call 911 – call emergency services immediately, even if symptoms improve
The CDC also lists sudden severe headache with no known cause, sudden confusion, trouble speaking, vision problems, difficulty walking, dizziness, and sudden weakness or numbness as warning signs of stroke. The CDC advises calling 911 right away if any of these symptoms occur.
What Should You Do If Someone May Be Having a Stroke?
Call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve, and do not drive the person to the hospital unless emergency services instruct you to do so. Emergency medical teams can begin care promptly and help direct patients to the most suitable stroke-ready facility.
It is also important to note the time symptoms started or the last time the person was known to be well. This information can help doctors determine which treatments may be appropriate.
What Causes a Stroke?
Stroke risk can increase due to several medical, lifestyle, and genetic factors. Some of the most common causes and risk factors include:
- High blood pressure is one of the leading stroke risk factors
- Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that can increase the risk
- High cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup in blood vessels
- Diabetes can damage blood vessels over time
- Smoking increases blood clotting and damages blood vessels
- Obesity and physical inactivity contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease
- Family history genetics may play a role in stroke risk
- Previous stroke or TIA increases the risk of another stroke
- Carotid artery disease narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the brain
The American Stroke Association notes that atrial fibrillation, hardening of the arteries, and high blood pressure are among the major causes of stroke.
Stroke Treatment: Why Every Minute Matters
Stroke treatment depends on the type of stroke, how quickly the patient receives care, and the patient’s overall health. For an ischemic stroke caused by a clot, emergency treatment may include thrombolytic medications, sometimes called clot-busting drugs, which are given through an IV or catheter to help dissolve a clot. Mechanical thrombectomy may also be used for eligible patients with a large vessel blockage; this procedure removes a clot using specialized devices inserted through a catheter.
For hemorrhagic stroke, treatment may focus on controlling bleeding, reducing pressure in the brain, managing blood pressure, and, in some cases, surgical intervention.
After emergency treatment, many patients need follow-up care with neurologists and rehabilitation specialists. Stroke recovery may include:
- Physical therapy to improve strength, walking, and balance
- Occupational therapy to support daily activities
- Speech therapy for communication or swallowing difficulties
- Medication management to reduce the risk of another stroke
- Lifestyle changes to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and weight
- Follow-up testing to identify the cause of the stroke
Stroke Prevention: Managing Risk Before a Stroke Happens
Many strokes may be preventable with the right medical care and lifestyle changes. Patients can lower their risk by managing blood pressure, controlling cholesterol and blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating a heart-healthy diet, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol, and taking medications as prescribed.
Patients who have already had a stroke or TIA should work closely with a neurologist and primary care provider to reduce the risk of another event. Stroke prevention may include antiplatelet medications, anticoagulants for certain heart rhythm disorders, cholesterol-lowering medications, blood pressure control, and treatment of underlying vascular conditions.
AI, Stroke Research, and the Future of Neurology
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the future of neurological care and research. In stroke care, AI has the potential to support faster image analysis, improve clinical workflows, assist with risk prediction, identify patterns in large datasets, and help researchers better understand patient outcomes.
First Choice Neurology is proud to be a founding partner of NeuroDiscovery AI, a neurology-specialized AI platform focused on artificial intelligence, data analytics, clinical dashboarding, real-world data, and research support. First Choice Neurology’s partnership with NeuroDiscovery AI is designed to help analyze clinical data, track outcomes, and identify meaningful insights that may improve neurological care.
NeuroDiscovery AI describes its platform as utilizing real-world data and evidence to accelerate neurological research, enhance patient recruitment for clinical trials, and provide AI-driven insights for neurology providers.
For stroke and other neurological conditions, this type of AI-driven research may help physicians and researchers better understand trends, outcomes, treatment gaps, and opportunities to improve care. While AI does not replace the expertise of a neurologist, it can become a powerful tool to support data-informed decision-making, research participation, and more personalized neurological care.
First Choice Neurology Stroke Care in Florida
First Choice Neurology has 80+ neurologists and 60+ Florida locations, with providers who specialize in stroke, general neurology, brain injuries, dementia, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, and more.
If you or someone near you may be having a stroke, call 911 immediately.
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, TIA, or stroke-like symptoms, follow-up neurological care is important. A neurologist can help identify the cause, manage risk factors, coordinate testing, review medications, and support recovery. During National Stroke Awareness Month, take time to learn the warning signs, talk to your doctor about your risk factors, and encourage your family to Know the Signs and Act FAST
Frequently Asked Questions About Stroke
What are the first signs of a stroke?
The first signs may include sudden face drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble, balance problems, vision changes, confusion, numbness, or a severe headache.
What should I do if stroke symptoms go away?
Call 911 anyway. Symptoms that disappear may be a TIA, which can be a warning sign of a future stroke.
Can stroke be prevented?
Many strokes may be prevented by controlling blood pressure, managing cholesterol and diabetes, not smoking, staying physically active, eating a healthy diet, and following medical advice.
Do I need a neurologist after a stroke?
Yes. A neurologist can help determine the cause of the stroke, recommend treatment, reduce the risk of another stroke, and guide recovery.
How is AI being used in stroke and neurology?
AI is being studied and used to help analyze data, support research, improve clinical workflows, identify patient patterns, and assist with faster decision-making in neurological care.