'Time is brain'

The next few weeks, we'll focus on time. All too often, people wait to seek help when a stroke occurs. It's vitally important to get a stroke patient help as soon as possible. The quicker the person gets to a stroke center, the better choices of treatment.

Here's a note from Kansas City:

'Time is brain' remains stroke mantra:

...[Kathleen] Henderson [RN, MN, ACNF, LNC] wants everyone to know the warning signs and importance of getting immediate help.

“Stroke is one of those time-critical diagnoses,” she said. “It’s similar to a heart attack. The faster you get help the better your outcomes may be.”

Henderson said any of the following signs merits an immediate phone call to 911:

• sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech;
• sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
• sudden dizziness or loss of balance or coordination;
• sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Getting treatment within 60 minutes of the onset of symptoms can prevent disability, Henderson said.

Now, one of my "mantras" is that the last item about the "sudden severe headache" does not mean that no headache means no stroke. I never had a headache with my stroke. Most people I have spoken to didn't have a headache.

So think about the symptoms like this: If you see one of these symptoms, get some help. Fast.