| This actually happened. During a party a lady | | | | - Inability to understand what is being said |
| stumbled and fell. It seemed to be nothing serious | | | | - Trouble is seeing or focusing, with both or just one |
| and the lady got up and refused her friends' offer to | | | | eye |
| call paramedics. She said that she has slipped because | | | | - A sudden onset of dizziness, loss of balance, |
| of her new shoes. The lady adjusted her clothes and | | | | uncoordinated physical movements or trouble in |
| while she seemed a bit shaken up by the fall, she ate | | | | walking. |
| her dinner and appeared to be enjoying herself. | | | | Remember that these symptoms maybe transitory, |
| Later in the day the lady's husband called to say she | | | | as in the case of the lady at the party. Do not ignore |
| had been taken unwell and rushed to the hospital. | | | | any of these symptoms even if these seem to |
| She passed away that evening. She had suffered a | | | | disappear in a few seconds or minutes and the |
| stroke at the party and if the people present had | | | | person appears to be fine. If a stroke has occurred, |
| understood the symptoms, they could have done | | | | brain damage need not be immediately apparent and |
| something and perhaps saved her. Saving a person | | | | may signs may surface after some hours, by which |
| who has suffered a stroke is not just a question of | | | | time it may be too late to help. |
| saving his or her life, it is also a matter of saving | | | | There is a simple and medically approved way to see |
| them from paralysis that could leave them in a | | | | if a person has suffered as stroke. It is called STR |
| helpless and hopeless condition even if they do not | | | | and is worth remembering. STR stands for: |
| die. | | | | - Smile - ask the person suspected of having had a |
| According to neurologists, if a stroke can be | | | | stroke to smile. |
| immediately recognized and medial attention made | | | | - Talk - ask the person to speak a simple sentence: |
| available within three hours, it is normally possible to | | | | describe what kind of car he owns or where he lives. |
| reverse the effects, often completely. The problem | | | | - Raise - ask the person to raise his arms above his |
| is that strokes are often unrecognized since most | | | | head. |
| people are unaware of the symptoms. | | | | Doctors has now offered one more way to know if |
| A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the | | | | a person has suffered a stroke - ask the person to |
| brain is suddenly interrupted. There are two types of | | | | stick out his tongue. If his tongue is not straight or |
| strokes. When the arteries carrying blood to the brain | | | | droops or slants to one side rather than coming |
| are abruptly blocked, it is called an ischemic stroke. | | | | straight out of his mouth, it is an indication of a |
| When a blood vessel bursts and blood seeps into the | | | | stroke. |
| brain tissue it is known as a hemorrhagic stroke. | | | | If the person has difficulty in performing any one of |
| A severe stroke, if not treated in time, can result in | | | | these tasks, it is more than likely he has suffered a |
| death. Even is the stroke is not fatal, it may cause | | | | stroke and medical help should be IMMEDIATELY |
| neurological damage that will the leave patient | | | | called for. |
| incapacitated for life. The brain is one of the most | | | | Until help arrives, caring for a stroke victim is limited |
| complex organs in the body. Even if other organs fail, | | | | to offering support to the victim. But this is important |
| the brain may continue to keep functioning. But when | | | | and may prevent further deterioration of the |
| the brain stops functioning completely - brain death - | | | | condition while waiting for medical help. - If there is |
| the other organs have nothing control them and | | | | someone available with CPR training, the victim's |
| gradually die also. | | | | circulation, breathing and airway should be checked as |
| The effects of a stroke depend on the location of | | | | per standard CPR procedure. The paramedics should |
| the obstruction - which part of the brain is deprived | | | | be briefed, when they arrive, on symptoms |
| of blood - and the amount of tissue damage. One | | | | observed and action taken. |
| side of the brain controls the opposite side of the | | | | - Lay the victim down flat with the head and |
| body and also specific organs, so a stroke occurring | | | | shoulder slightly raised to reduce the blood pressure |
| in the right side of the brain could result in, among | | | | in the brain |
| others: | | | | - If the victim is unconscious, gently roll him so he is |
| - Paralysis of the left side of the body | | | | lying on his left side and pull the chin forward. This will |
| - Problem with vision | | | | help to keep the airway open and allow any vomit to |
| - A sudden change in behavior - usually rapid erratic | | | | drain and not hamper the breathing. |
| movement | | | | - If the victim is conscious speak reassuringly and |
| - Loss of memory | | | | offer all the positive support you can. Keep saying |
| A stroke in the left side of the brain may cause: | | | | that help is on the way. |
| - Paralysis to the right side of the body | | | | - Never give a stroke victim any thing to eat or drink. |
| - Problem in speaking, incoherent speech | | | | The throat may be paralyzed and they may choke. |
| - Memory loss | | | | Strokes are the third largest killers in America, after |
| - Slow uncertain body movements | | | | heart disease and cancer. Reading this took you only |
| Warning signs of a stroke are: | | | | a few minutes. If you circulate it to ten more people |
| - Any sudden weakness or numbness of the face or | | | | and ask them to also spare these few minutes to |
| the limbs, especially on one side of the body - | | | | read this, there is a good chance that your action will |
| Sudden severe headaches with no discernible cause | | | | help to save a life. |
| - A sudden onset of confusion | | | | There is a relationship between high blood pressure, |
| - being unable to talk, speaking in an unclear or | | | | snoring and strokes. |
| garbled manner, speaking illogically | | | | |