DescentBB

Received this from a friend ... thought it was important so here I post it ...



STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.)
She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

It only takes a minute to read this-

Recognizing a Stroke

----- 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 an getting to the patient 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 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:

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) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

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. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. 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 e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

BE A FRIEND AND SHARE THIS ARTICLE WITH AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE, you could save their lives.

Very good info, thx.

a similar situation happened to a very close friend of mine. she and her family were gathered for a holiday (i believe thanksgiving last year). her mother was in the kitchen preparing the final steps of the meal, and suddenly everyone heard a crash. rushing to the kitchen they found her mother half sitting on the floor with several platters of food around her and even on her. she claimed that she had slipped. everyone helped her, fussed over her.

they went about their night. just as dinner was being served, her mother asked that someone else finish since she was feeling a bit bruised, and klutzy. at this point her brother (my friends uncle) arrived at the festivities having driven from some far away local. he heard the comment and asked why, they quickly explained and he looked her over. he immediately said something they didn't expect, i think we might need to get you to the hospital.

luckily he was a physician, and recognized the warning signs right away. they got her to the e.r. after he examined her. she was admitted and treated, i can't remember exactly what it was that caused it, but they found something and began treating her.

as my friend said, "thank God my uncle came when he did. The E.R. doctor said that she could have died!"

thanks for this Iceman... it awful to think that something so simple sounding as, falling down, or 'fainting' could really be a death sentence to someone that is 'too stubborn' to admit what happened, or those that just don't recognize these symptoms.

Good info Ice. Another thing you might try is have the person grip your hand with either of theirs. If their left hand grip is noticably weaker than the right, then take them to emergency. Seems a stroke affects the left side more than the right (If this is incorrect please post).

it checks out with snopes.
http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/stroke.asp

The advice given in this much-circulated e-mail appears to be sound, although it needs be pointed out that it has yet to be endorsed by American Stroke Association.

so it seems like something worthwhile keeping in mind, thx iceman.

woodchip i have heard that it generally damages motor neurons on one side of the brain, but havn't heard of it being more prevalent in the right side of the brain (left side of body). it could though.