Spot the signs of a stroke
Be aware of stroke symptoms so you can get help for loved ones fast.
Those who receive treatment within three hours of having a
stroke have a better chance of recovery, says Ralph L. Sacco, MD,
director of the Division of Stroke and Critical Care at Columbia
University in New York City. Here are three simple tasks to ask of
a person if you think she's having a stroke. If she fails even one
of them, call 911 immediately.
Do the smile test. Ask the person to smile. Strokes cause
weakness or tingling on one side of the body, so a person having
one may also have a crooked smile.
Follow it with the arm test. Next, ask her to raise both
arms. "If she only raises one arm or doesn't understand you, that's
a worrisome sign," says Dr. Sacco.
Ask her to repeat a sentence. Strokes can cause speech
difficulties, so if she can't repeat something like, "It's
raining," call for help right away.