Information about Strokes

[CellarDweller]

Hello,

I'm just posting this here, for those who have family members that may be at risk for a stroke.

Not long ago, my father suffered a stroke.   As luck would have it, my brother (who still lives at home) recognized the signs and got dad the help he needed very quickly, and dad has completely recovered.

Someone who is experiencing a stroke will exhibit these signs:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  
  
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
  
  
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  
  
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
  
  
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
  

If you think think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do the following test:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, seek medical help right away.



One thing that is not mentioned, but I will post here.  Do not necessarily wait for 911 to arrive.  What you should do (and do it now) is find out where the nearest stroke center is.  If paramedics arrive, and they take the patient to a hospital where they DON'T have a stroke center, the patient will then be moved to where one is.  You should instruct 911 that the person is having a stroke, and needs to be taken to the nearest stroke center.

My brother knew there was a great stroke center about 10 minutes from where my parents live, and he drove my dad there himself.  The staff told my brother that the reason my dad recovered so quickly was because my brother got him there so quickly.   Time is of the essence when dealing with a stroke.  Take a few minutes now to Google "nearest stroke center" and make a note of it.

[Bookworm]

You should ask Andy to pin this post to the top of the Health & Fitness sub forum for easy access 

[CellarDweller]

Hell @andy....just mentioning you so you see @Bookworm's suggestion.

[Bookworm]

Hell @andy....just mentioning you so you see @Bookworm's suggestion.

I should have actually done that myself. I wasn't being lazy, just had a brain fart 

[Bhp91126]

Hell @andy....just mentioning you so you see @Bookworm's suggestion.

I should have actually done that myself. I wasn't being lazy, just had a brain fart 

@Bookworm Those are actually one of the symptoms....