recognizing a stroke

KD, i'd like to post there here as i believe more people will read it. it is a message of great importance....



----- Original Message ----- Subject: 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 - A true story
>
> Susie is recouping at an incredible pace for someone with a massive
> stroke all because Sherry saw Susie stumble - - that is the key that
> isn't mentioned below -and then she asked Susie the 3 questions. So
> simple - - this literally saved Susie's life - - Some angel sent it to
> Suzie's friend and they did just what it
said to do. Suzie failed all
> three so then9-1-1was called. Even though she had normal blood
> pressure readings and did not appear to be a stroke as she could
> converse to some extent with the Paramedics they took her to the
> hospital right away.
>
> 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) (ie . It is
> sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks,
> call9-1-1immediately 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

YIKES!!!!!!! You should have put a TRIGGER icon on that!!!!!!!!

Thanks for posting this Pat.

I worry about my mother because her mother had a stroke. Also, stroke is one of the dangers of having my blood disorder.

I will remember the questions!

Petunia

I agree, Pat. Good post. I called nurseline once for hubby and they asked me those same questions.

KD

Wow....what a wonderful informative post.

I remember wondering if my Mother had had a stroke last year when I called her on the phone & she told me she "slid down the wall to the floor". It was after that I realized that her cognitive abilities were no longer ok. She refused to call the paramedics.....scared to be taken to the hospital (after her cancer surgery 5 months earlier). I had her put into the hospital a few days later for what ended up being blood clots in her legs....which added to my questioning whether it was a stroke or if the cancer had spread to her brain. I talked to her Dr & he said it was because of her age & that people with a chronic desiese like cancer also get that way. I felt like I was being put off......then I called her Dr's a few days later requestion that they test her for a possible stroke. I got blown off by her other Dr, asking me if it was an issue of money.

Go figure....couldn't understand that reaction at all until the next day when I found out that they were discharging her without my knowledge. It was then I understood his comment. It turned out in her case it could have been either problem.

I am glad to know this however......I am sure it will be helpful at some point in life....I find out that these little known points of information usually come in handy sooner or later.

Thanks again,
Debbie

consider it done!

Thanks Faye!!! My grandfather had a stroke last winter and so we're always sure to keep an eye on him. Often it is possible, to recognize a stroke by looking for drooping on one side of the face. we had overlooked that in my grandfather's case. He had already had some smaller strokes, which caused the left side of his face too droop. If we had know this was a symptom and recongized it we possibly could have prevented his larger stroke.

i'm glad this is helpful to so many. i surely was impressed with the info. there is also some pertinent info about the difference in the symptoms of a woman having a heart attack and a man.

did you know that 85% of women that go to ER with heart attack symptoms get "pooh-poohed" and sent home????? i'll find the article and get it in here also. it's very important for us to know the signs.

That is fascinating about the women getting pooh-poohed in the er & sent home.....I guess the ER I go to is a little more careful. I went in with chest pains.....knowing in my mind it was only an anxiety attack......they insisted on my being admitted & having the blood work done to check on the changes that happen from a heart attack. Unfortunately I was in the middle of finals when I went back to college 1 1/2 years ago. After that, they made me do the stress test.

Then this summer when I was having problems with passing out from dehydration.....then admitted me over night & then had the ultrasound done on the corratid artery in the neck to make sure there wasn't anything blocking the blood flow.

It is surprising that here in the back country they are that thorough.

Luckily nothing has been wrong & it had only been stress & the fact that I have no reserves due to lack of weight....to take me through problems that come up.

It is great that you are sharing this information with us.....it is important for everyone & helps us recognize problems when they arise...rather than ignore.

Thank you,
Debbie