Each year there are over 600,000 strokes in the U.S. alone. World wide, stroke is the third leading cause of death.
One of the problems is that most people might be embarrassed by the signs and symptoms exhibited in the early stages of a stroke and would try to cover them up or hide them. This can have devastating effects, including death.
The first symptoms can include difficulty walking or an unsteady gait. The person might suddenly appear to be clumsy and trip or fall. Or they could suddenly become forgetful and stumble over finding words or begin to slur them. This could happen to anyone at anytime and for very different reasons not be a stroke. The point is to investigate further and observe the person carefully.
There are 3 simple tests that can help you to decide if it might be a stroke and the person should seek further medical evaluation. Remembering the word STROKE will help you to remember what they are. (Note: This basic test information was distributed in a popular email and the original author is unknown.)
Ask the person to complete these 3 simple tasks:
- S: Ask the person to SMILE
- T: Ask the person to TALK. Can they repeat a whole sentence coherently?
- R: Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS
The SMILE should be basically symmetrical and there should not be any drooping on one side.
They should be able to TALK in a complete, coherent sentence. One or two word answers don't count. You may have to come up with a prompt or sentence to repeat.
They should be able to RAISE BOTH ARMS without difficulty. If one arm is considerably weaker than the other or flops, this is an important sign to note.
If they have a problem with even just ONE of these tasks, it might be a stroke, and you should call 9-1-1 for emergency medical help.
The person might balk at this or resist, but you should insist especially if they have a history of high blood pressure or family history of strokes. The EMT or paramedic can evaluate further and consult with the emergency team to determine how essential further evaluation is. Measuring vital signs and testing for neurological deficits will assist in early diagnosis. The EMT can do this.
Most symptoms of stroke come on quite suddenly and can be more pronounced such as sudden numbenss of the face, arm or leg, sudden loss or dimness of vision, sudden difficulty swallowing, sudden difficulty in speaking or understanding speech, sudden severe headache, sudden severe dizziness.
Minimizing the lasting effects of a stroke and preventing death means getting medical attention as soon as possible. The earlier the stroke is diagnosed and treatment begun, the better the chances for the best outcomes.
Aside from death, strokes can cause the loss of bodily functions such as speech, cognitive brain functions, swallowing, and movement of limbs. This can escalate from minimal difficulty to complete loss of function in a very
short time. How well the body will recover from the effects of a stroke and regain function depends on early diagnosis and treatment.
Strokes are caused by two different factors. One is a hemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding into the brain. The accumulation of blood causes pressure on the brain, causing cells to die and resulting in the stroke.
The other is caused by the loss of oxygen and blood flow to the brain due to a clogged carotid or cerebral (brain) artery. This is usually caused by a blood clot formation or atherosclerosis from plaque in a artery in the brain. (Hardening of the arteries.) This is known as a cerebral infarction. Eighty percent of strokes are cerebral infarcts.
Treatment of the stroke is dependent upon accurate diagnosis of which type of stroke it is, and what part of the brain is being most affected. Diagnosis requires visualization of the brain with a CAT scan or MRI. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to recovery. Learn how massage therapy can help stroke victims recover.
Remembering how to administer the 3 simple tests may help to save a life. The NAtional Stroke Association has another way to remember these steps. It's called the FAST test.
Copyright 2006 by Kathy Quan. All rights reserved.
