Stroke Identification, 3 easy steps that can save someones life

[Guetz]

A friend of mine sent me this and I feel that is worth sharing with as many folks as possible.  For us older folks, it has immediate relevance but even younger folks should know this for the sake of their parents and grandparents.

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STROKE IDENTIFICATION

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 6:00am, 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.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE

A neurologist 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 if the stroke is not recognized.

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 lives.

[pioneerbasketball]

Good post, Could be useful one day to many people.

[amehr36]

Im glad you posted that....thats good info.

[donkeyfan]

Ya thanks.  Just don't htink i;m ahaving a rokstre fi my tyoing gets messed up or I say something stupid here on FF.  It just happens now and again.

[Guetz]

Ya thanks. Just don't htink i;m ahaving a rokstre fi my tyoing gets messed up or I say something stupid here on FF. It just happens now and again.

ROFLMAO

[chilly gilly]

GOOD INFO PIMPIN!!!!!!!

[Guetz]

"Pimpin" ?  That supposed to be cool or something?  But I am glad that you found the information good. 

[chevy lover]

Remember women/men sometimes will not have the same symptoms sometimes.

[Douglas]

Folks, PLEASE be careful with this.  Snopes has a good section dealing with this.  They said, and I quote...

The advice given in this much-circulated e-mail appears to be sound, although it needs be pointed out that it has yet to be endorsed by American Stroke Association. It was drawn from a report presented in February 2003 at the American Stroke Association's (ASA) 28th International Stroke Conference, and news of it can be found on the ASA web site and the American Heart Association's (AHA) web site. However, as the ASA says in its official statement about the report, though the research was funded by a grant from the ASA, that body has not taken a position on the topic nor endorsed the test because the results, though positive, arose from a very small study.

READ MORE HERE

[Guetz]

Folks, PLEASE be careful with this. Snopes has a good section dealing with this. They said, and I quote...

The advice given in this much-circulated e-mail appears to be sound, although it needs be pointed out that it has yet to be endorsed by American Stroke Association. It was drawn from a report presented in February 2003 at the American Stroke Association's (ASA) 28th International Stroke Conference, and news of it can be found on the ASA web site and the American Heart Association's (AHA) web site. However, as the ASA says in its official statement about the report, though the research was funded by a grant from the ASA, that body has not taken a position on the topic nor endorsed the test because the results, though positive, arose from a very small study.

READ MORE HERE

Douglas, thank you.  You and the Snopes disclaimer are correct that lay people must be careful with the information that they recieve on strokes.  I went to the Snopes site you linked and did find, though, that they appear to endorse using these simple pass/fail tests with a failed test resulting in seeking immediate medical attention.  The alternative of doing nothing is a scary thought, particularly given the time sensitivity.

I should have done this earlier, appending the typical stroke symptoms as listed by the American Stroke Association (ASA is a part of the American Heart Association).  These are the signs listed at the ASA site:

Stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts:

    * Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
    * Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
    * Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    * Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
    * Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience symptoms!
Time lost is brain lost!

To elaborate a bit on the importance of the 3 hour period, this is extracted from the Snopes citation provided by Douglas:

And it is important laypeople learn to recognize such events, because a new drug has been shown to limit disability from strokes caused by clots (ischemic strokes) provided victims receive it within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a clot-busting drug administered intravenously in cases of ischemic stroke; however, only one in fifty stroke patients has a chance of this drug helping them because currently only 2 percent of them reach an emergency room in time for tPA to be given.

(It's possible TPA's effectiveness can be boosted by simultaneous massaging of the clot with ultrasound. Early results from a 2004 study performed in Houston on coupling this drug with such treatment are most encouraging.)

Approximately 80% of all strokes are of the ischemic type.  At present only 2% get help in time.  Think about it.

To further emphasize, the following conclusion is provided from the Washington University School of Medicine Internet Stroke Center:

Stroke is a medical emergency. Treatment is available, but only if a stroke is recognized in time. DO NOT try to diagnose the problem by yourself, and DO NOT wait to see if the symptoms go away on their own.

Even if the symptoms pass quickly, they could be an important warning that requires prompt medical attention.[/b]

In other words, if you even think it is a stroke (yours or someone elses) get help NOW!