STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ a lady 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; she went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Her husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, she passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps she would be with us today.


Recognizing 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 and 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.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BrenauMom,

[quote] Originally posted by johnbol:
My mom is in the hospital. My sister in Toledo said that "they" think she may have had a small stroke. Nothing that anyone would notice like slurred speech or dragging limbs.
[quote}

This made me think of this thread about recognizing strokes so i thought I would bump it up for any who missed it the first time.

Judy, that is so good to post. My dad had actually had several small strokes before he wound up in the hospital on life support. We didn't know it, we just thought he was depressed. I wish we had known all of the signs 10 years ago, he might be in much better shape than he is now. Thanks Judy, for the info.

quote:

Originally posted by Laurie:
.... she had a brain aneurism (sp?) that was bleeding. Because she went to the hospital so quickly she has made an almost full recovery.
Laurie

I am so happy she recovered. That is what dh died from.

Ok i printed a copy, and I'm showing the entire family today at the hospital. my cousin showed signs of all of these one day, they got her to the hospital to find out she had a brain aneurism (sp?) that was bleeding. Because she went to the hospital so quickly she has made an almost full recovery.

Laurie