Recognizing A Stroke

[OldTimer]

Received this from a friend this morning by way of an email.

Could help us save someones life.

 

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

A true story:

 

Susie stumbled and fell. Her friend, Sherry, saw this happen. Being very concerned, she had the insight to ask Susie the 3 questions below.

 

Suzie failed all three test-questions, so 911 was called. Even though she had normal blood pressure readings and did not appear to be suffering a stroke (she could converse to some extent with the Paramedics) they took her to the hospital right away. Susie suffered brain damage after a massive stroke, but is recouping at an incredible pace.

 

So simple - this literally saved Susie's life - Some angel had previously sent this advice to Suzie's friend and she followed it exactly.

 

Read and Learn the 3 steps!

 

A stroke occurs when oxygen fails to reach some part of the brain. Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim will ( - WILL! -) suffer brain damage if people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, and take action. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking the victim three simple questions:

 

*Ask the individual to SMILE.

 

*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

 

*Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE coherently (e.g. "It is sunny out today").

 

If he or she has trouble with ANY of these tasks, call 911 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 now urge 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.

 

----------------------

Greg

Edited September 16, 2005 by OldTimer

[Deverill]

Awesome, Greg, thanks!

 

My mother had a stroke about 8 years ago and from what I learned afterwards these things you mention are dead-on right. Unfortunately, by the time the symptoms happen you have less than 3 minutes to fix the damage or brain damage will occur - but quick action can reduce the effects and prevent other problems like pressure building inside the brain cavity from blood spillage (hemorragic stroke) or compounded problems by not taking care of the clot in that kind of stroke.

 

Also important is that strokes are different than heart attacks. In a hemorragic stroke the blood vessel pops, usually due to extreme blood pressure, and the old "take an aspirin" treatment for heart attack will make that kind of stroke much much worse.

 

By the way, those 3 things require different parts of the brain to do which checks for left and right-side of the brain strokes. My mom had a left-side stroke and in that kind the visual field can be split in half and everything left of center just doesn't exist to the victim. My mom was so mad because in the hospital one morning she missed half of her breakfast because she didn't see it. The brain is a strange and wonderous thing.

 

Good stuff... thanks!

[OldTimer]

Thanks Jim,

 

Hope your mother is ok. Myself, after seeing what the effects are, I wish I would of known those 3 "simple" steps. I see as of this posting, 74 reads, that means at least 74 more folks know what to do. And hopefully have past it on to others.

 

Greg

[Head Guru]

I am pinning this topic.

 

I think this is awesome information and should be read by everyone once or twice.

 

Bill