How to recognize a stroke...

PeterUK_IHB

PeterUK_IHB

New member
I copied and pasted this from an e-mail, never thought about it before but you never know when things like this can come in handy...



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 then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.



RECOGNIZING A STROKE

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 recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:



S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.



If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.



New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue



NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
 
This isnt a seizure.... and i would demand to be taken to Hoag or St. Joseph's. Either have fantastic staff to deal with the higher level complications of strokes. Never believe or accept an ambulance driver's claim that they "have to" take you to a certain hospital. You make the decision and dont take "no" for an answer. They're just lazy and figure its all the same to them.
 
...



[quote author="PeterUK" date=1234785078]I copied and pasted this from an e-mail, never thought about it before but you never know when things like this can come in handy...



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 then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.



RECOGNIZING A STROKE

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 recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:



S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.



If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.



New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue



NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.</blockquote>
 
Recently when I get stressed at work due to a conflict + tight deadline + pressure, I get blurred vision, is that a specific medical condition?



Will I get anything other than "less stress" recommendation?
 
[quote author="earthbm" date=1236903202]Recently when I get stressed at work due to a conflict + tight deadline + pressure, I get blurred vision, is that a specific medical condition?



Will I get anything other than "less stress" recommendation?</blockquote>


That sounds sort of scary. I'm not a run-to-the-doctor kind of person, but I would go if I was having that. Could be a symptom of a bigger problem (cardiac, neurological, etc.). Better safe than sorry.
 
I'm going to start by saying that I'm not a doctor and even if I were, I wouldnt suggest you rely on advice from a forum post. But I had a friend with a similar thing going on and he went to see his doc. turned out to be nothing specific, but they did find elevated blood pressure. So I would definately make an appointment. Also, stop by the grocery store on the way home from work and use one of those blood pressure machines that you sit at, usually right by the pharmacy.
 
Blood Pressure for sure. Get screened.



Or take this medicataion.



<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TvHp-KVzBUY/SaSa-d8ulsI/AAAAAAAABhk/VzA0grNTB6k/s400/fuckitol.jpg" alt="" />



Seriously. If when getting angry, screaming or under stress you feel

light headed or blurred vision. Discuss with your doctor ASAP.
 
Thanks all! I am in a pretty good shape for a 37 year old, haven't seen a doctor since I was a kid, other than specialists for injuries (sports!) and to check skin for cancer.



How do you choose a generalist doctor?



I like the blood pressure theory... oh well, off to the gym...
 
What can be done to treat a stroke, particularly the ones they consider mild? A few weeks back I was on the phone with my nearly 82 year old mom and suddenly her speach was slurred and she couldn't articulate the words for what she was trying to tell me. I put her on the phone with my husband and called 911. They got there in just a few minutes and by then she was fine. They didn't want to take to the hospital for overnight observance. I wasn't sure if it was a blood sugar issue or possible stroke.



I had already made an appt with her doctor the next week because I wanted to make certain I understood the status of her health and have him check a few things that she would ignore. He told us that he suspects the incident the week before was a mild stroke, so minor that he doubted even an MRI would detect it. The symptoms only lasted a few minutes and then she was completely normal again.



My sister says that the mild ones are often precursors to a big one and mom's doctor said it's the biggest risk he sees right now with her blood pressure and sugar high. It seems that there isn't anything they do for a mild stroke? ? ?
 
Disclaimer!: I am not a doctor. however, I do work in a field where I have come to learn a great deal about these things so I can tell you my personal observations. If you ever think you should see a doctor or call 911 about stroke symptoms, even mild... do it! Always rely on the doctor's words over someone posting in a forum.



Ok, to respond to the above: Strokes are a clotting that happens in the brain which may temporarily or permanently block off the flow to certain portions of the brain where the blood vessels flow to. Small clots can happen in our body, but the body has the tools to break them up sometimes without incident. If this was indeed a temporary/mild stroke, then this could have happened. Essentially, there would be nothing to detect on the MRI anyway, now that its gone (as the doctor suggested). The real "precursor" for a stroke is family history. Did anyone else in her family suffer a stroke before her?



Also, dont panic yourself, thinking that certain doom is imminent. Mild strokes have been known to happen to people once and never again. If anything, it was a great lesson of what to be on the lookout for if it ever happens again.



I suspect they gave her a blood test while she was being observed and likely already ruled out anything in there showing a high risk for clotting (another stroke), or they would have looked into medication to prevent it.



Your immediate 911 response was appropriate. If the stroke had not resolved itself (assuming thats what it was), you would have likely saved the day. There would have been a very high probability of non-interventional (medication - IV) treatment success for a small stroke if she got care right away.
 
I also say look at their sweating. When my father had a stroke, he was sweating like crazy. We were lucky we made it to the doctor, but it was the start of a slow downward slide. I miss him dearly.



-bix
 
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