Four easy tests you can use to determine if a stroke has occurred
Four easy tests you can use to determine if a stroke has occurred
When a stroke occurs, you’ve got about three hours.
That’s one of the key details contained in an e-mail a friend forwarded to me last week. You might have received it too – it appears to be making the rounds. And of course I always check these things out to verify their authenticity. This one seems to have originated at the School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine.
Apparently, one neurologist claims he can reverse the effects of a stroke if he can treat the patient within three hours of the onset of a stroke. I assume he’s referring to ischemic stroke (caused by a blocked artery), as opposed to a hemorrhagic stroke (caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain).
Step one in getting quick treatment is diagnosis, which can be difficult because the early signs are often subtle. But if irregular behavior raises suspicions of a stroke, there are four quick tests that can help you spot a problem.
Ask the suspected victim to smile
Ask him to repeat a simple sentence
Ask him to raise both arms
Ask him to stick out his tongue straight out
If any one of the four tests can’t be completed, call 911 immediately and describe symptoms to the dispatcher.
The e-mail I received notes that if everyone who receives this message forwards it to 10 people, there’s a good chance we’ll help save lives along the way.
