Very simply, strokes are cruel and can kill so it is worth learning more about what you can do and raising awareness to others for when you may need to help. A stroke can happen to anyone, anytime, anyplace.

What is a stroke?
A stroke or a brain attack occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or when a blood vessel bursts, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.

An ischemic stroke occurs when the blood vessel is blocked. This is the most common type of stroke.

A hemorrhagic stroke (brain bleed) occurs when a blood vessels breaks. This type of stroke is less common.

Common stroke symptoms are:

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

It is also vital to know the following key points should you happen to see a friend or family member feeling unwell.

Stroke has a new indicator! Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue:

Case Story:
During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (the guests offered to call paramedics) ...she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They helped her to clean up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 PM Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would still be alive.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said that it was imperative to have a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is a challenge but does happen.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Learn!

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

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

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. Chicken Soup)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the emergency services immediately and describe the symptoms.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

It is worth sharing this information. It could save a life. You could save a life!