....................................................603-524-0753
----- 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 getting to the patient within 3 hours, which is tough.
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 (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)
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 non-medical
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.