Identifying a stroke

[mikepmcs]

My mother sent me this.  Don't know if it 's legit but can't hurt I imagine.

v/r
Mike

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 the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to 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, to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE

                                     (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

           R *      Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

*NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this:

               Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue.  If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.   If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

[dkn1997]

My mother had one about 7 years ago, my stepfather recognized it right away and took her to the hospital.  they gave her a new drug, which I think is the same one this neurologist above probably uses.  she suffered absolutely zero effects of a stroke.  it was a miracle.

I would go one step further and suggest that anyone who lives with or cares for someone who is in a high risk group for strokes, to check the local hospitals in the area and make sure that they have this medicine.  i forget the name, but they told my mom that she was lucky she came to that particular hospital, as not everyone does not have the drug.  this was a while back, so maybe everyone has it by now, but could not hurt to check.

someone post up with the name of the drug, I can't remember.

[mikepmcs]

quick google resulted this.

streptokinase
urokinase
alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or rtPA).
reteplase
tenecteplase

[dkn1997]

quick google resulted this.

streptokinase
urokinase
alteplase (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or rtPA).
reteplase
tenecteplase

We have a winner!! TPA is what they used on her.   she had a screamer of a headache the first few days and I recall that they said that there were risks, but well worth it.

[mikepmcs]

 

[Rocky]

My grandpa had a stroke a couple years ago, my grandma caught it right away and took him to the hospital.  They gave him the medicine, and it was like nothing had happened.  I think I remember hearing that they have to treat it within 3 hours too.