Recognising a Stroke
During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall – she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and claimed she had just simply tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and gave her a new plate of food – while she appeared a bit shaken up, she went about enjoying herself for the rest of the evening. Her husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – (at 6:00 pm, 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.
It only takes a minute to read this – Recognising a Stroke
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours he can reverse the effects of a stroke totally. He said the trick was recognising and diagnosing a stroke and getting to the patient within three hours, which can prove to be tough.
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 recognise the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognise 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 paramedics 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 in February 2005.
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 reads this gets this message out to 10 people you can bet that at least one life will be saved.
BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE, you could save their lives.
