STORM2K

Recognizing a stroke

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the
rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

It only takes a minute to read this-

Recognizing a Stroke


----- A neurologis! t says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a
stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call
9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE, you could save their lives.

Thanks for this very important information. This exact information saved my Mom's life about 7 years ago.

That is very good info......thanks!

Bumping up this thread, b/c it's so very important. My brother-in-law suffered a massive stroke at age 38 (from surgical complications).

There is a 3 hour window of time, if you can get a stroke victim to the ER within that 3 hour window, they may be able to receive medication that breaks up the clot. If so, the patient often has minimal damage. But not every patient can receive the meds (my BIL couldn't, he was on blood thinners).

Timely topic. I thank you for starting it.

Mary

Many times with older people, the obvious signs of a stroke are mistaken for the decreased mental alertness that comes with old age. Stroke symptoms appear abruptly though; sudden aphasia (inabilty to speak) is a good indicator of a stroke as is the onset of weakness or even paralysis on one side of the body. As was stated earlier if you are around someone who displays symptoms of a stroke, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGE, call 911 right away! Seconds count..literally. Often the local fire department or other EMS provider can stabilize the patient prior to transport to a hospital where life saving medications can be administered.