Stroke Symptoms: Knowing These May Help Save Your Life.

Posted by Alex in Medicine on May 9, 2007 at 2:26 am


Hello everyone,

For a couple of weeks, I haven’t been putting up as many posts on Neatorama as I used to (besides the pre-scheduled posts). No, I wasn’t in jail ;) - rather, I was away on a family emergency: my father had a stroke. Thankfully, the stroke was mild and he is recovering well. Nevertheless, it was a very serious matter that gave us many sleepless nights.

I’ve just returned home, and am trying to catch up on work, postings and emails. For those of you who sent me emails and I haven’t responded, please be patient - I’m getting to ‘em! I may have to go back, so I apologize in advance for future lack of postings / email response.

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to write this personal post because what I’m about to tell you may save your life or the life of someone you love. Please take a minute to read a little about stroke and its symptoms.

Basically, a stroke is a "brain attack," where blood flow to the brain is interrupted. In the United States alone, someone has a stroke every 45 seconds. Every 3 minutes, someone dies from it. It is the third leading cause of death in the country - and sadly, an overwhelming number of stroke cases are actually preventable.

Knowing the symptoms of stroke will allow you to react and get help as quickly as possible:

Sudden Numbness in One Side of the Body
Sudden paralysis, numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs - especially on one side of the body (but may also occur on both sides of the body).

Sudden Vision Trouble
Sudden onset of blindness (complete or partial) or double vision in one or both eyes.

Sudden Confusion or Trouble Speaking
Sudden trouble speaking or understanding, slurred speech, inability to speak, and confusion.

Sudden Trouble Walking, Loss of Balance
Sudden loss of coordination and balance (which may look like intoxication), dizziness, and trouble walking.

Sudden Headache
Sudden headache with no known cause. Keep in mind that many strokes do not cause headaches or pain.

In cases of transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke), these symptoms may disappear on their own. The person experiencing them often try to minimize the symptoms or ignore them completely. They will often discourage you from calling for help. This is a big mistake: one-third of them will go on to have an actual debilitating stroke.

If you think someone is having a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T, which is a clever acronym for:

FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? Does the face look even?
ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down (involuntarily)?
SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Can the person repeat the sentence correctly? Are the words slurred?
TIME If the person shows any of the symptoms of stroke, call 911 immediately. Each second counts (literally, as brain cells start to die).

In many cases, stroke is completely preventable and you can lower your risk for a first stroke. Start by knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol level, whether you have diabetes and/or heart disorders. See: National Stroke Association.

Lastly, please schedule an annual physical with your doctor, if you haven’t been to one recently. I know all of the excuses, we’ve all used them to avoid the doctor:

I feel fine.
Indeed, my father felt perfectly healthy until the minute he got a stroke. Remember, there may be NO warning sign for your first stroke.

I don’t have the time, I’m too busy at work.
A couple hours of going to see your doctor vs. a couple of weeks (at least) or months of recovery, if you’re lucky to survive a stroke. You’ll have to re-learn talking, walking, eating … everything. Going to the bathroom? Yep - you’ve got to learn (again) how to do that too …

I don’t like getting prodded.
A few uncomfortable minutes vs. …. Let’s not get into what they’ll do to you in the hospital if you’re ever in one for a stroke.

I don’t have the money to see a doctor.
Having a stroke is very expensive. Preventing one is cheap.

I don’t want to know if I’m sick, I’d rather just die.
This is not a terminal illness. You can do something to prevent it. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for someone you love. Plus, you don’t just die - you suffer first (and maybe for a very long time) before you die.

Please tell your family and friends. Email this post. Print this out, post it on your cubicle. Whatever you can do to prevent a stroke or save someone’s life (maybe yours too).


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COMMENT

14 comments to "Stroke Symptoms: Knowing These May Help Save Your Life."

  1. artbot
    May 9th, 2007 at 3:23 am

    I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past few months. Sorry to hear about your father. I lost my father-in-law 3 months ago after a series of minor strokes and advanced alzheimer’s. Needless to say, it was not a pleasant experiance for my wife or myself. Our best wishes are with you for your father’s recovery.

  2. Vako
    May 9th, 2007 at 3:26 am

    Thank you for it. My Grandpa had strokes. I am also afraid I will have a stroke.

    I’m glad to hear your father is recovering.

  3. Padraig
    May 9th, 2007 at 4:12 am

    I’m glad you wrote this entry. My father had a heart attack 2 years ago and fortunately survived and recovered well. The attack came entirely unexpected as my father doesn’t smoke, exercises regularly, rarely drinks (1/2 glass of wine in the evening), and is healthy overall. Particularly attacks (strokes, embolisms, etc.) are starngely underrated in our modern world, considering how many people are affected by them on a daily basis. Thank you for the article - it is particularly useful since it is simple to understand. I am certain the post itself will save _at least_ one life.

  4. Randy
    May 9th, 2007 at 4:22 am

    Well,
    though it is bad news that your dad had a stroke, it is good that the stroke was only a mild one. Hopefully, the physical/speech therapy won’t be too arduous and extensive.

    Long story short.. My dad had a stroke which paralyzed his right side. Really tough road to haul after that. But, it still amazes me that he learned how to handwrite, and even paint again with his left hand.
    And I learned that nursing homes, while seemingly a yucky concept to many until they are faced with such a reality in their life, are full of other such stories and interesting, loving (although sometimes forgetful) people.

    Anyway, while it’s tough on your dad, it also deeply impacts family. May you all get the time together you need to work through this.

    THanks for all the effort you have put into your shows and blog.

  5. AK-00
    May 9th, 2007 at 5:48 am

    Great. I’ll add this to the already long list of things vying to kill me.

  6. Excellent
    May 9th, 2007 at 7:30 am

    Thank you.

  7. Geekazoid
    May 9th, 2007 at 8:06 am

    Thanks for this great announcement, it is great advice. Hope all is going well with your father.

  8. peter
    May 9th, 2007 at 9:44 am

    interesting thing here: this is really the kind of information that you get when you want to know about strokes. but the fact is: this does not apply to everybody, because these are only the things to watch out for in male stroke victims. for females, some of these things are not true. eg. no numb feeling down one side or in the left arm, instead numb feeling in the stomach.

    but since most stroke patients are male, this is the bit that you read everywhere.

  9. gab
    May 9th, 2007 at 10:28 am

    good luck to your father

  10. steve
    May 9th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

    Hope all goes well

    Truly some great advice you have provided , men are especially bad with going to the doctor , I had a heart attack some 25 years ago when i was in my early 30’s and I know it sounds strange it was a good thing as it provided me with a wakeup call to take the time and listen to medical advise

    My mum has suffered with a stroke so i also know how you feel she came through it fine after much convalesing

    steve
    and once again wish you and your family well

  11. Chris
    May 9th, 2007 at 3:21 pm

    Send some get well greatings to you dad from France!

  12. Anita
    May 9th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

    Alex, great post, I just added to digg:
    http://digg.com/health/Knowing_these_Stroke_Symptoms_Could_Save_Your_L ife

    My grandfather just died last weekend from complications related to a TIA (about his 100th, literally), had he known these symptoms 20 years ago he could avoided many of the problems over the years.

    Thanks!

  13. yayo
    May 9th, 2007 at 5:46 pm

    Saw this in House last night

  14. Postman
    May 10th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    I am a 38 yr. old male who suffered a stroke. I am 6′2″ and only weigh 200 lbs. My cholestral is fine. However, my stroke was caused by my coratid artery tearing when I pulled a neck muscle while lifting an object ( I’m a Postman). For awhile I had migrane headaches, then my tongue felt as if it got stung by a bee.


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