Recognising a stroke

Post by **Steen Jakobsen** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:16 pm

I know this is totally unrelated, but I just received it and it sound as something we all ought to know...

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and had 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 afternoon.

Ingrid's husband called later that evening 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 - a neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he could totally reverse the effects of a stroke.

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) e.g It is a sunny day today

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 999 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 British 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.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:29 pm

Thank you for posting this Steen, it is a subject close to my heart.

Seven years ago now, I was talking to my Mum on the phone and she just didn't seem to be making proper sense, some things were not in the right order, I became very concerned and after telling my Mum to sit quietly and I would call her back I phoned my brother who luckily lived only 6 miles away from her, he drove straight there and called me to say he had phoned her doctor who was on his way, he also was very concerned at the way our Mum was talking.

When the Doctor arrived he just said 'oh looks like she has had a stroke, put her to bed and I will come and see her tomorrow' no mention of her going to hospital or anything. By the next morning she had suffered a couple more small strokes and was then taken into hospital. By this time the damage was too great, my Mum had lost the use of her whole right side and was unable to speak.

For three years I had to watch her slowly deteriorate from the fun loving Mum I knew to a vegetable, as the time went on she continued to have small bleeds in the brain, robbing her of what little she had left.

She died four years ago now, unable to recognise me or any of my family. If you can stop someone from going through what my Mum did, then please do.

Sharen Crane · Post by **Sharen Crane** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:36 pm

I have a colleague, who over the Christmas period collapsed in town. She was taken to hospital, at the insistance of her daughter who was with her, where they diagnosed that she had suffered a minor stroke and that they would keep her in for observation. That night she suffered a more serious stroke.

She is still in hopsital having been transferred from ICU to a stroke unit and is likely to take a very long time to recover.

Thanks for posting the above Steen, as a First Aider at Work it will certainly be something I keep in mind. If my colleague had collapsed at work I am almost certain that she would have refused to go to hospital and unfortunately I wouldn't have been able to demand that she did so!

Bruxinha · Post by **Bruxinha** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:39 pm

My 39 year old male cousin had a stroke last year, so it doesn't just affect the elderly. Interesting advice Steen.

elle · Post by **elle** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:40 pm

and it can happen at any age..plenty of young people suffer from strokes!

Bruxinha · Post by **Bruxinha** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:47 pm

Think we crossed there, Ellie.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:40 am

Do they have to smile, hands in air and talk at the same time to determine stroke or have these tests to be done singly?

sundance · Post by **sundance** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:49 pm

Just came across this. You'd be scared to know that I know about more or less half a dozen people whose relatives had strokes in the past couple of months. The mother of someone I know died.

My dad died with one three years ago...well, IMHO and from the research I've made my dad was given the wrong dosage of a medicine called Heparin...In excess it causes brain heamorraghe.

I suspected all this and actually put a complain about the doctor but the case was closed.

A couple of months ago or more I was reading "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown where they describe an identical situation, with the same medication, with the same outcome...I was very shocked. It was awful! It proved my theory (unless Mr. Brown did not get his facts right).

It probably explained the doctor's attitude and the fact he did not move my dad into another hospital and said from the beggining there was no chance to save him.

Either way this subject is very close to my heart. Thank you Steen for posting this.

blue · Post by **blue** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:10 pm

Lesley Jean how dreadful for you it must have been heartbreaking.
I think the information Steen posted is more than interesting it's invaluable.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:59 am

I so agree blue, the more that people know about this the better, and if you suspect anyone you know has had a stroke, even a very small one then get them seen straight away, the earlier the treatment the better chance of a recovery.

I am left wondering what the outcome would have been if my Mum had been able to have the now, more modern treatments for stroke, and a lot earlier.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:49 pm

My uncle suffered a stroke in his sleep. He woke up to find one side of his drawn down and his arm on same side hanging weakly..luckily it was a mild one and he recovered.
Both H and I have had Bell's Facial Palsy...one side of face 'freezes' and becomes completely immobile..it is a horrible thing and can look as though you've suffered a stroke. Mine lasted a month, but strange thing was, I got the most horrendous earache(on same side) and I actually had a 'cauliflower ear'..You can't speak, eat or drink properly
That experience alone made me aware a little of what a stroke could do.My left eye was badly affected..the doctor was more concerned about that.
Weirdly, it was that eye that had detached retina later on..
My daughters little friend at school had Bells for 6 months or more.Some people never get the use of face muscle back.
Good to be aware of the signs for a stroke..this is very informative topic!
ellie