I Think I'm Having A Stroke...
(now what?)
“Approximately every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, a condition where blood stops flowing to part of your brain. A stroke is always a medical emergency, and it's critical that you seek emergency care as soon as possible after symptoms begin to avoid long-term disability, or even death” 1
After entering over thousands of patients’ homes in my career, the most common reason I have had to dial 911 is due to a patient exhibiting stroke related symptoms. These experiences and moments have alerted me on how important it is to educate and teach people to idenify and properly respond to stroke-related symptoms.
“A stroke is what happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This prevents the brain from getting the oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells can begin to die within minutes”2.
It could be assumed that many people would understand the urgency and the immediate danger of a possible stroke; however, I cannot tell you the number of times I have told a patient that I need to call 911, to which he/she will refuse me and not go to the hospital. Many will say: “If I still feel this way tomorrow, I promise I will go to the ER”, or “I’m just having a bad day, it’s not that serious”.
A stroke can result in many different presentations of bodily harm, ranging from death, paralysis, bowel and bladder complications, swallowing and eating disorders, muscle and nerve problems, and memory deficits. Pending the severity, some people may have life long complications that arise, while others make a full recovery. That is why the quicker a patient receives treatment, the higher likelihood the patient will have less severe symptoms (not guaranteed though).
Since we have established that early detection is key… it begs the question, how do I know if myself or a loved one is having a stroke? BE FAST. Both literally, and figuratively, as the phrase BE FAST is an acronym.
B (Balance): Has the person’s balance become more unsteady? Did the person have a recent fall or stumble that was uncharacteristic?
E (Eyes): As the person if he/she now has double vision, or difficulty seeing out of one eye.
F (Face): Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A (Arms): Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S (Speech): Ask a simple phrase (such as: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”) to be repeated. Is the speech slurred or hard to understand?
T (Time): If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.
1
Please remember this phase and inform fellow loved ones on how to possibly detect early warning signs of a stroke. Quick action is key. You must educate yourself and spread awareness to those around you.
BE FAST.
Dr. Adam Kerr PT, DPT.
Kerr Performance Inc.
Kerrperformance.substack.com
Great information. Thank you for sharing.
This was informative and easy to remember.