Health and Wellness

Why Identifying a Stroke Could Save a Life

- and it could be Yours or Someone you Love.

I'm sure everyone has gotten the email. It goes something like this:

"During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone that she was fine. They offered to call paramedics but their friend Ingrid insisted that she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken, she went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

 

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital. At 6:00 pm, Ingrid passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today, in good health. Some don't die. They just end up suffering the results of the stroke instead.

 

By asking a victim to do just Three simple things, you can discover if they are having a stroke and possibly save their life."

If you've read it, you're doing better than most. The fact is, this information is true.

According to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, a stroke is "a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of the flow of blood to the brain (an ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke). The interruption of the blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die. The effects of a stroke depend upon where the brain was injured as well as how much damage occurred."

Death Rate

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. Each year, about 16,000 Canadians die from stroke. Each year, more women than men die from stroke.

Survivors

Of every 100 people who are hospitalized for stroke:

• 20 die before leaving the hospital
• 50 return home
• 10 go to an inpatient rehabilitation program
• 15 require long-term care

Stroke survivors need to learn how to do everyday things in entirely new ways. Imagine trying to use one hand instead of two when washing the dishes or doing your gardening. Everyday tasks, like driving, bathing yourself or working change when you're in a wheelchair.

Learn to recognize the signs of a stroke by reading on.

Recognizing a Stroke

If you can remember the Three steps, it could make all the difference.

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.

A bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.

 

2. Ask the person to TALK. Ask them to say A SIMPLE SENTENCE Coherently.

ex. It is sunny out today.

 

3. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Stroke Warning Signs from the Heart and Stroke Foundation

Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke.

Weakness - Sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg.

Trouble Speaking - Sudden temporary loss of speech or trouble understanding speech.

Vision Problems - Sudden loss of vision, particularly in one eye, or double vision.

Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache.

Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.

Ask the person to stick out their tongue... if the tongue is 'crooked', or if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

By reading the above information, you may have armed yourself with the tools to save the life of someone - maybe even someone close to your heart.

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Jim Kinnell, President of Kinnell Insurance and Financial Inc. and has been dedicated to providing health and living benefits offering the best combination of quality and price and 'peace of mind'. Visit http://www.Kinnellinsurance.com or contact him by email at : jim@kinnellinsurance.com

 

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