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RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Neurologists say that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours they can 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 those 3 hours, which is tough.

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps:  STR 

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 easily recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today.)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. 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 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

More Signs:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially if it occurs on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, or double vision Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause Drowsiness, nausea, or vomiting

If such symptoms appear, "Don't wait. Call 911 immediately," says Kyra Becker, MD, a stroke neurologist at the University of Washington Stroke Center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. "Every single minute counts. With each passing minute, more and more brain cells die." In other words, "Time is brain."