Recognizing A Stroke

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:17pm

RECOGNIZING A STROKE - A true story

Susie is recouping at an incredible pace for someone with a massive stroke 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 911 was 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.

If he or she has trouble with ANY of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of nonmedical 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. It could save one of their lives.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 2:54pm

Thanks Boobsie.

Though I thought this would be about "strokes of genius" or something like that...

[ckeaton]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:00pm

I thank you for this.

My father's life was all but ended by paralysis and loss of speech due to a stroke when I was in 6th grade. He died about 2 years ago, having never regained speech, and minimal mobility... His life was ruined because he didn't get prompt attention. He was a doctor.

I hope this thread doesn't turn into the usual den of double entendre and off-color jokes. This is a deadly serious issue.

Thanks again.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:00pm

That's actually how we knew my dad was having a stroke about three years ago. He stood up and then fell right back down in his chair. I asked him to raise both hands and he could only raise one. Scariest moment of my life.

Thanks for the info, Boobs. I just forwarded it to a bunch of my friends.

Updated On: 4/20/05 at 03:00 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:02pm

Eww, CK. I can only hope people will be "normal" here. This is good information to have. I have seen many of my family suffer from strokes and who knows how their lives may have been altered if someone had been there to recognize the initial signs.

[ElTico68]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:03pm

Thanks boobs... I've lost several relatives to stroke (grandfather included) so this is great information to have.

And I'm forwarding to my off-line friends as well.

Updated On: 4/20/05 at 03:03 PM

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:04pm

thanks, boobs, for some great information!

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:04pm

Thanks for posting this... my mom's cousin "Chicky" had a stroke a few years back... he's doing OK but he is still not the same, so this is kind of close to my heart.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:43pm

Appreciate the post - unfortunately, my mom died from a series of strokes back in 1997. I had taken her to a dr's appt (unrelated to her stroke) the day before she had her first one on a Tues. I was unable to contact her for the rest of the week, but wasn't too worried as she had lots of friends, and was out with them frequently - she didn't have an answering machine. Finally that Fri I couldn't contact her, so I went to her house, and found her semi-conscious on the floor. She had been on the floor since that Wed!!! Once in the hospital, she had a few more strokes, and finally passed away two weeks after I first found her. The final blow to this story is she passed away on my birthday. I wished I had known some of the signs at that time. Hopefully, your post can save a life. Thank You.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:51pm

Sorry to hear some of those stories especially CK and It'sOnlyAPlay...I lost my Mom the same way. They said she was having strokes for along time, but we never knew. I hope everyone reads this and remembers it so that they won't lose loved ones like us. Stay healthy all.

[wink]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:51pm

When you ask someone to say these things, be sure to demonstrate the first two. Some people are hard of hearing and may appear confused when they really just aren't sure what you're saying.

The first three hours of an onset of a stroke are critical. If someone exhibits stroke or stroke-like symptoms, they need to get to a hospital immediately. There are new drugs on the market that can minimize the damage done by a stroke if given within a three hour period of its onset.

[ikmbway]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 9:27pm

aww everyone who has lost someone I am so sorry. I had a great Aunt who had a mini stroke and missed my sister's Bat Mitzvah. Also my sister and I are like grandkids she never had. She does have them but she doesnt talk to them or her son. Luckily, she is alive but it could of been more serious. Sorry again all of you for your losses
Thanks for the info!!!!!!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 7:16am

BUMPING to the top to remind us all what signs to look for.

[KelRel]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 8:27am

Thanks Boobsy, this is great information to have.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 8:29am

I saw 700 Sundays last night, Billy Crytal speaks personally about the effects of a stroke.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 8:55am

My Mom they informed us was having mini stokes for along time, but none of us knew...I hope this can help us save someones loved one. I wish I knew the signs to look for sooner..maybe my Mom would still be with us today.

[shameless]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:19am

Thanks for sharing this, boobs.

My Aunt had a near-fatal stroke about two years ago. She's made a remarkable recovery, regaining her speech and mobility. Luckily, she didn't suffer any facial paralysis, but she did lose all of her peripheral vision and she has trouble with even simple math. She's only 53.