Recognising a stroke

During a barbecue, a guest stumbled and fell. She assured everyone that she was fine and declined the offer of an ambulance. She was cleaned-up and given a new plate of food, and although she appeared somewhat shaken up, she continued enjoying herself for the rest of the afternoon. That evening her husband 'phoned to say that his wife had been taken to hospital and had died. She had suffered a stroke at the barbecue and, had anyone known how to identify the signs of a stroke, it is very likely that she would have survived.

A neurologist has said that if he can treat a stroke victim within three hours, he can, hopefully, reverse the effects of a stroke – totally. He said the trick is to get a stroke recognised, diagnosed and getting to the patient within three hours. 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 recognise the symptoms of a stoke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognise 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).

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call an ambulance immediately and describe the symptoms to the paramedics.

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. 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 information gives it to 10 people, lives will be saved.

Carol Thuaire