Stroke

              A friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously... Please read: 

              During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and that she 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 evening. 

              Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm, 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. 

              Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STROKE IDENTIFICATION: 

              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 

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, S.T. R. . Read and Learn! 

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe 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: 

S * Ask the individual to SMILE . 

(If the smile is lopsided, a stroke is likely to have occurred.)

T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (If the speech is slurred, a stroke is likely to have occurred.) (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. 

(If he or she cannot raise one arm, a stroke is likely to have occurred.)

*NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue! If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the ambulance immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Five warning symptoms of Stroke.

1. Sudden weakness or numbness of the arms, legs, or face, especially on one side.

2. Sudden vision problem in one or both eyes.

3. Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or difficulty in walking.

4. Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.

5. Sudden sever headache with no know cause.

Recognising stroke warning symptoms promptly and seeking immediate emergency care can mean the difference between life and death or disability.

Patients whose stroke is caused by an interruption of blood supply to the brain (blood clot) can be treated with clot-busting drugs, but such medicines should be given within three hours of symptom onset.

Other types of strokes may require immediate surgery to prevent serious disability or death.

P.S.

Please feel free to copy this, and the other post, and pass it on to your friends whom you think might appreciate it.