O/T: Stroke Awareness

[Lew Hodgett]

I pass this on in hopes that it just might help.

Lew

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Subject: Signs of a stroke

STROKE I DENTIFICATION:

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 then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Remember the first 3 letters: STR .

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK

SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke --- Stick out Your Tongue

Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.

If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

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.

[RLM]

My wife is a diabetic and has had a couple of strokes.

A sudden lose of sight is also a symptom and requires calling the squad immediately.

If she is feeling out of sorts I ask her to do the examples you have cited. The earlier action is taken tends to help with the outcome.

[Saudade]

At ASA does NOT endorse this.

[John]

Actually, they haven't taken a position either way. The STR procedure is a simple way to check for unexpected one-sided weakness in a person

- which is often a stroke indicator.

If you read the procedures at the American Heart site, you'll find these two lines (paraphrased): Sudden loss of coordination Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience symptoms!

If you lose coordination, let's hope there's someone available to call

911 for you...

[Lew Hodgett]

I can't emphasize enough that any senior who is living alone should as a condition for living alone, wear a medical alert.

It was a deal I made with my mother.

At 102, she fell and suffered a compound fracture of her right leg in the middle of the night.

She was able to press the button and get help or she would have bled to death.

Lew

[Mark & Juanita]

Glad to hear that.

Sounds like you've got some good genes.

[Robatoy]

In article , "Lew Hodgett" wrote:

I asked Angela, my dream-come-true partner and referred to by tradition as my wife. She runs a stroke clinic and is considered a specialist in that field. I sent her Lew's post, (I hope you don't mind, Lew.) asked if she had anything to add, (not to critique) ... well... here it is...

---------- This is good info and true, however the key piece is as the article states all assessment and diagnosis and the treatment itself which is a drug called tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) has to be done within 3 hours. Another piece is this, even when that happens not everyone is a candidate for tPA. There are 2 types of strokes, 1 caused by a blockage the other caused by a bleed. tPA can only be given to those strokes caused by a blockage. If tPA is given to a patient whose stroke was caused by a bleed they will hemorrhage in their brain and die. How do we know what type we are dealing with, it is the CT or MRI must be done. Therefore, it isn't just about getting to a hospital within the right time frame, its about getting to the right hospital. One that has CT and/or MRI facility that is operated 24 hours day. So here a patient would lose precious time going to Petrolia hospital as they do not have a CT. In ON we have what is called a by-pass protocol which means if you call 911 and you are exhibiting stroke symptoms they will by-pass what might be the nearest hospital to take you to the closest one that CT ability and a stroke specialist on-call who will administer tPA. Not all hospitals do. So another key-important piece is to call 911 and not have family or friends drive you. There are other reasons why even if all those parameters are met that someone still wouldn't receive tPA. One is if their B/P is too high and we can't bring it down to a safe range then the risk of hemorrhaging in the brain would be too high. The other is if the symptoms start resolving significantly on their own, they wouldn't get tPA because it is a serious 'clot busting' drug that has serious complications if not given to the right candidate.   All that being said, the best thing people can remember is that stroke IS a MEDICAL EMERGENCY and requires immediate assessment and can be treated when recognized. So everyone should learn the 5 warning signs of stroke.   A SUDDEN change involving weakness (typically 1 side, might involve, face, arm, leg, 1 or all - there is one type of stroke that is rarer and involves bilateral weakness as well). This weakness may be accompanied by numbness and tingling or may only experience the numbness and tingling.   A SUDDEN change in speech. Might be slurred speech, difficulty getting the words out, complaints of feeling like they have a mouthful of marbles or just came from the dentist. Also may be trouble understanding speech. To those around them they may seem confused but really they aren't understanding/ processing what is being said to the,m.   A SUDDEN change in vision. Can be blurred, vision, double vision or loss of vision 1 eye or both or 1/2 or 1 eye or 1/2 of both eyes.   A SUDDEN headache. Not a normal headache. The worst headache you have EVER experienced in your life.   A SUDDEN change in balance/ coordination exhibited by dizziness often. But not normal dizziness, the type where it effects your balance and/or coordination   This is probably more than you wanted, huh?

-----

This planet needs more people like Angela. Her mother chose her name well. So I am biased. Shoot me already.

r

[Fred the Red Shirt]

Crimony, are you John McCain's cousin?

[Fred the Red Shirt]

That reminds me of an ad on the radio for adult literacy classes. The ad said to dial 1- 800 a-b-c-d-e-f-g.

[Lew Hodgett]

Don't think so, why do you ask?

Lew

[B A R R Y]

On Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:08:20 -0400, Robatoy

So, you won the wife lottery too?

I know that gloat. ;^)

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[Robatoy]

Three tries, BARRY... THREE Frickin' tries!!!! Them lottery tickets are EXPENSIVE!

But, hey, there are a few of us, here in this here Wreck, who made out like bandits.

[B A R R Y]

One shot for me!

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[Robatoy]

You are a rare and fortunate man.

[B A R R Y]

And lucky to _realize_ it.

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[jo4hn]

As Maggy says, we each had a practice marriage to start. This one is a keeper at 22 years. mahalo, jo4hn

[Mark & Juanita]

... snip

BTW, that's a darn site more helpful than the stupid PSA (Public Service Announcement) that runs on the radio that cautions about ignoring the warning signs of a stroke but doesn't bother to tell you what those signs are; instead they use this "clever" illustration of a lady with a python wrapped around her who is too busy to have it "looked at".

PSA's: the crabgrass in the lawn of radio advertising.

[Doug Miller]

Supposed actual sign on a bus: "illiterate? We can help. Write now for details..."