Recognising a stroke

[spudtater]

This has been going round in email for a couple of years now, and has recently made it onto LiveJournal (courtesy of lisatheriveter).

RECOGNISING A STROKE

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage while people nearby fail to recognize the tell-tale symptoms.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
3. Ask the person to SAY A SIMPLE SENTENCE.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call for an ambulance immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting in 2003. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

Reference: The American Heart Association.