Spotting signs: Face

A quick glance can often catch a stroke symptom: one of the face might droop, sag or otherwise not look like the other.

From the Web site eHow:

Look at the face and ask the person to smile. Determine if the smile is crooked or if one side of the face appears to be paralysis or stiff. If the face does show a marked difference between the two sides, a stroke may be in progress. Call an ambulance and get the person to the hospital immediately.

It's good to check someone for all symptoms if you see just one, but just one is enough to get help right away. Not all symptoms show up in every person who is having a stroke.

(Image from Camden Council)

Make sure you know the signs: Lives can be saved

The British National Health Service in has a lofty goal: reducing the number of stroke deaths in half.

From a Reuters story about this new stroke awareness campaign:

Deaths from strokes can be halved if people recognise the signs of an attack and call an ambulance immediately, the National Health Service said on Monday.

New clot-busting treatments can produce "Lazarus-like" effects and have patients up and about within a day if administered within three hours of a stroke, said Roger Boyle, the National Director for Heart Disease and Stroke.

The National Health Service posts great information, including specifics about the signs of a stroke. The agency uses the F.A.S.T. acronym:

• Face: Has their face drooped or look fallen on one side? Can they smile?
• Arms: Can the person raise both arms?
• Speech: Can the person speak clearly and understand what other people are saying?
• Time: Time to call 999 (blogger's note: in the U.S., of course, that would be 911) if you see one or more of these signs.

And that's the bottom line. Even if you're uncertain, call for help. Life is in the balance.

Stroke signs: Remember the first three letters, S. T. R.

One more way to remember stroke symptoms, recently from The HealthCentral Network - STROKE: Remember the First Three Letters, S. T. R.

The simple test, according to the article:

S: Ask the individual to SMILE.
T: Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (coherently) i.e., "It is sunny out today").
R: Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

So as you try to remind and teach people about stroke symptoms, another mnemonic device to help.