A bystander (that's you) may be able to spot someone having a stroke by giving the person a simple, quick test to see if they can smile, raise both arms and keep them up, and speak a simple sentence coherently, according to a report presented at the American Stroke Association's 28th International Stroke Conference. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association.
In Just a Minute, With Three Simple Questions, You Can Help
The three-question test, which takes less than one minute, has helped health care professionals accurately identify stroke patients. The study showed that untrained adults can successfully detect stroke symptoms (arm weakness, slurry speech, droopy smile indicating paralysis) and act as the eyes and ears for a 9-1-1- dispatcher miles away. Quick reporting could speed treatment to stroke patients. Time is crucial in treating stroke.
Immediate Treatment is Critical
A clot-busting drug has been shown to limit disability from strokes caused by clots (for one form of stroke called ischemic strokes), but the drug must be given within 3 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Because of this short time window, only a few victims are eligible to receive the drug.
"As the brain is deprived of oxygen during a stroke, it's literally starving minute-by-minute. The sooner the patient receives proper treatment in the appropriate medical setting, the better the chances for a full recovery," said Amy S. Hurwitz, lead researcher on the study at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Get Help - You Can Save a Life
"The general public should remember the three items . . . if a family member's speech unexpectedly becomes slurred or incomprehensible, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. Similarly, if one side of someone's body 'goes numb' or if one side of the face droops down, you should call for help immediately," Hurwitz said. "Delaying medical attention is dangerous when someone is having a stroke, since continued oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage." |
