Do you know about the simple test for strokes?

Question

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3008841
Check out this link. There is a three hour window in which to administer clot busting drugs after a stroke. Every minute counts.

My dad had a stroke this weekend and neither my mother or the first paramedic team knew to do those. He didn't go to the hospital for two days. Hopefully, he will still recover most of his motion. His mind seems fine.

SC, the one hour is for you to call EMS, three is to get the drug administered.

Silk, that is terrible. I'm sorry you had to go through that. My parents have always had health insurance and now have good supplimental coverage in addition to Medicare.

Answer 1

Great article. I'm a firefighter and go on medical aid calls. When I suspect a stroke, the first thing I do is ask the patient to smile. Under the conditions, they don't always want to smile but after I explain it's to help diagnose, they'll usually do it. It's an ice-breaker too and it helps the patient relax if they're nervous.

Answer 2

Yes, I am aware of that. My former husband had a stroke. As a trained medical person, I knew the signs and importance of getting immediate care. I called the ambulance, the paramedics concurred with me that it was a stroke. We went to the hospital, they said my husband had a virus. He was so dizzy, when he stood up for the x-ray, he fell and broke his nose. They sent him home, the following morning he was in a coma with irreversible brain damage. He remained in a coma for six weeks. He had to learn to walk, talk, bowel, and bladder control. He became a violent person. There was a total personality change.

I will add, up to the moment the paramedics arrived, I thought my husband had taken out health insurance through his company, he hadn't, so care was absolutely minimal at best and actually harmed him more by not administering the correct medication.

Answer 3

Thank you for this valuable information.

I'd like to say, though, that not always do these symptoms necessarily signify a stroke. They can also be signs of a person having a partial seizure. I'm an epileptic and during a partial or temporal lobe seizure I cannot speak,or make voluntary physical movements. These only last for a few seconds to a few minutes so reapplying the test would be beneficial to test for stroke.

Answer 4

extra note:
Alteplase is a clot-busting drug administered at the onset of a stroke. (within the 3 hour window)

Answer 5

No, I did not know of that simple test. A friend's husband had a stroke, and the reason she knew something was wrong was the fact he had buttoned his shirt up wrong one morning before work. When she told him about it, he could not get it buttoned correctly.She took him immediately to the emergency room.

Answer 6

I just drink a teaspoon of 100,000 heat unit cayenne (chili) powder in a warm cup of pure water. This does the trick faster than anything manmade.

Answer 7

I do remember hearing about the acronym FAST: Face, Arm, Speech, Test to help recognize stroke symptoms quickly. Thanks for the link, it contained some valuable information, I added it to my favorites.
I hope your dad recovers quickly, my thoughts and prayers for him and your family.

Answer 8

Excellent link, thanks! When I had my stroke several years ago, I had no idea that's what was happening. Luckily, my husband was home and recognized what was happening and got me to the emergency room ASAP!

Answer 9

Thank for sharing this link. I wish your father well & hope he'll make a full recovery.

Answer 10

Thank you. That was wonderful to know. I am going to go to this site and post it in my favorites, so I can read all they have to offer.