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Signs of stroke 101
12 years ago
Hey everyone, after the events of last week I decided to put this info 'out there'. From what I've seen it's not something everyone knows, but it might save your friend, family member or (like in my case) a coworker.
Last Wednesday I arrived at work for another night-shift and noticed two out of the symptoms, I'll list below, in the woman that was on the afternoon shift. Having grandparents that were no stranger to strokes (nine strokes combined that I know of) I immediately recognized the signs and called the ambulance. Turns out I was right on the mark and the only reason she isn't paralyzed (or even dead) is the fact she got to the hospital so fast.
Here's a list (not a comprehensible one by any standards) of the most common symptoms of a stroke:
- slurred speech test for it is pretty simple: ask the person to say something and listen
- partial one side facial paralysis easiest to spot in a drooping corner of the mouth: ask the person for a big 'mugshot smile'
- partial limb paralysis can be as subtle as weakness of one hand and/or arm or they can go completely limp; ask the person to stretch his/her arms at a 90degree angle if they can't lift and keep their arms on the same level (or one arm rapidly drops down) you know their brain is loosing control over the body
- loss of the ability to write (agraphia) give them pen and paper and ask them to write a word. People with strokes will sometimes just scribble something
- loss of the ablity to read words will seem completely foreign or they'll claim the letters are in the wrong order
- loss of the ability to speak quite obvious how to notice this one
- inability to remember basic info (current date, name, address etc.)
Not every person with a stroke will exhibit all of the above (depends which parts of the brain are affected) but first three are most common. If you suspect your friend, parent, coworker or even a passerby on the street might be having a stroke make them stop working, preferably lie down and CALL THE AMBULANCE as soon as possible. The sooner they get to the hospital the better chances of avoiding permanent damage.
Last Wednesday I arrived at work for another night-shift and noticed two out of the symptoms, I'll list below, in the woman that was on the afternoon shift. Having grandparents that were no stranger to strokes (nine strokes combined that I know of) I immediately recognized the signs and called the ambulance. Turns out I was right on the mark and the only reason she isn't paralyzed (or even dead) is the fact she got to the hospital so fast.
Here's a list (not a comprehensible one by any standards) of the most common symptoms of a stroke:
- slurred speech test for it is pretty simple: ask the person to say something and listen
- partial one side facial paralysis easiest to spot in a drooping corner of the mouth: ask the person for a big 'mugshot smile'
- partial limb paralysis can be as subtle as weakness of one hand and/or arm or they can go completely limp; ask the person to stretch his/her arms at a 90degree angle if they can't lift and keep their arms on the same level (or one arm rapidly drops down) you know their brain is loosing control over the body
- loss of the ability to write (agraphia) give them pen and paper and ask them to write a word. People with strokes will sometimes just scribble something
- loss of the ablity to read words will seem completely foreign or they'll claim the letters are in the wrong order
- loss of the ability to speak quite obvious how to notice this one
- inability to remember basic info (current date, name, address etc.)
Not every person with a stroke will exhibit all of the above (depends which parts of the brain are affected) but first three are most common. If you suspect your friend, parent, coworker or even a passerby on the street might be having a stroke make them stop working, preferably lie down and CALL THE AMBULANCE as soon as possible. The sooner they get to the hospital the better chances of avoiding permanent damage.
Face - evenness.
Arms - when extended, are they held level?
Smile - does one side droop?
Time.
Thank you, House.
The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.
Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have dropped
Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift one or both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness
Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake
Time – it is time to dial 999[emergency services] immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms