Feature Articles: Food, Fitness and Health
Knowing the warning signs of a stroke can reduce death and disability
Tammy Roberts, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist in Barton County, University of Missouri Extension
According to the American Stroke Association, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States. Stroke is the number 3 cause of death behind heart disease and cancer and is also a leading cause of disability. Immediate treatment can help decrease the chance for death and disability. For immediate treatment to occur, people must know the warning signs of a stroke.
The Stroke Collaborative comprised of the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Heart and American Stroke Associations has developed the Give me 5 for stroke™ campaign to encourage people to recognize the signs of stroke and act immediately. The Give me 5 for stroke™ campaign encourages friends and family to use the following reminders when assessing if their loved one is having a stroke:
WALK - If the person is slumping to one side, appears
to have lost strength on one side of their body, is leaning
to one side when they walk or is dragging the foot of the
side he or she is leaning toward, that is a sign of a
stroke.
TALK - If one side of their mouth droops, speech is slurred, they are having problems getting words out, or they sound like they have something in their mouth when they try to speak, that is a sign of a stroke.
REACH - If you ask the person to raise both arms together and one falls down; you ask them to squeeze your hand and one hand is weaker than the other; you ask them to hold a pen and they have difficulty that is a sign of a stroke.
SEE - If the person is having difficulty seeing, has blurred vision or is seeing double, that is a sign of a stroke.
FEEL - If they have a headache that they rank as severe, say this is the worst headache of their life, complain of light bothering their eyes and say loud noises makes their headache worse, that is a sign of a stroke.
Even if only one symptom is present out of all of the categories listed above, call 911 and go to the emergency room. A check from a medical professional is also recommended for people who exhibit one or more symptoms and they go away; the quicker the treatment, the better chance for recovery.
Last update: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
 |
Site Administrator: |
|
|
|
