time after surgery

How Do You Know If Someone Is Having A Stroke -- Preview of "My Stroke -- Part 2"

My sister sent this to me. It was an e-mail she got. She says she verified it a little. So I pass it on.

"The SAS test
Smile-Arms-Sentence

"Symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness can spell disaster. The stroke victim may suffer 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:

*Ask the individual to smile.

*Ask him or her to raise both arms.

*Ask the person to speak a simple sentence.

"If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 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 last February. Widespread use of this test could result in a prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent possible brain damage.

"A cardiologist stated that if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people, you can bet at least one life will be saved. Tell as many people as possible about this. It could save their lives!"


Thanks, Sis. What little I know about other people's strokes tells me that it has to be good advice.

I have to tell you that when I had my stroke, I raised my arms to get into my coat, got into a cab, and gave the cabbie a set of directions in complete sentences. Don't remember if I smiled or not. As I have already told you, I had my stroke on January 23, and by the end of "My Stroke -- Part 1," it was 5 days later, we had diagnosed my stroke, I was still going to work, and no one had thought to ask me to lift my arms.

Why things happened that way will be revealed in "My Stroke -- Part 2" Coming soon (I hope).

posted by B @ 1/28/2005 10:59:00 PM