Medical Articles

Recognising a Stroke

At the barbecue Ingrid stumbled and fell over. People offered to send for an ambulance but she declined, saying she only tripped because of her new shoes. As she seemed a little pale and shaky people helped her to clean up and brought her another plate of food. Ingrid spent the rest of the evening in a jolly and happy mood. 

Ingrid’s husband rang later to say that his wife had been taken into hospital. At 11p.m. she died. She had suffered a stroke at the barbecue.

If they had known how to spot the signs of a stroke, she could still be alive!

Some people don’t die. They remain in a hopeless state in constant need of help. It will only take a few moments to read this but a neurologist said if he could reach a stroke victim within three hours he can reverse the effects of an attack.

How to Recognise a Stroke

There are just three steps to recognise an attack

Sometimes the symptoms are very difficult to recognise. However, if you don’t realize what is happening it can be disastrous. The victim can suffer serious brain damage if people nearby don’t recognise the symptoms. Doctors now say that by putting three simple questions, people close by will be able to recognise an attack from the symptoms. 

• Ask the person to smile – (lopsided?)
• Ask the person to say a simple sentence, for example, “It’s a lovely day today” -  (slurred speech?)
• Ask the person to raise both arms  -  (weakness?)

 If the person has problems with any of these requests, call the emergency doctor and describe the symptoms on the telephone. NB: If you ask the person to stick their tongue out and the tongue is crooked, i.e. turns to one side, that is the sign of a stroke.

This article has been reproduced from, and with the kind permission of, the Forncett Flyer.