Do you know how to recognize a possible stroke?

If you have a family history of strokes,as I do,you might want your loved ones and those that are around you knowing the obvious symptoms because the sooner you are treated for a stroke,the better chances of a good recovery!

There are 3 symptoms a lay person can ask a potential stroke victim for,we call them STR

Smile,Talk, and Raise your arms

If someone has a stroke,the sooner they receive blood clot busting drug helps prevent extensive brain damage and gives them a better chance of rehab.Within 3 hours of having a stroke is the stated parameter!

How do you know personally if you are having a stroke? is it numbness in the face, pain down the left arm or are there any symptoms that precede these?

There are a number of symptoms , ie::
* Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Pain in the left arm, is normally associated with the heart not the brain, and is symptomatic with a heart attack!

Self diagnosis and taking action by oneself is difficult because of the cofusion,disorientation and ability move the limbs!

Best that someone is around you,better yet,someone that can recognize and verify symptoms and take immediate action!The key is time before treatment!!!

RALPHCUSENS wrote:There are a number of symptoms , ie::
* Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Pain in the left arm, is normally associated with the heart not the brain, and is symptomatic with a heart attack!

Jeez Ralph sounds like one night of drinking for me

Self diagnosis and taking action by oneself is difficult because of the cofusion,disorientation and ability move the limbs!

Best that someone is around you,better yet,someone that can recognize and verify symptoms and take immediate action!The key is time before treatment!!!

Focal neurological signs such as slurred speech,discoordination,blurred vision,slurred speech and partial or total paralysis often indicate some sort of brain dysfunction and would be recognized by medical professionals,but might overwhelm a layperson if they had to do a complete check,so STR is easier to remember and could save valuable time allowing less damage!The TONGUE hanging to one side is another possible sign!

Ask the person to SMILE,TALK coherently and to RAISE the arms!If any of these signs appear,Rush to the Emergency room,don't wait for a Thai ambulance!!!

MAYO CLINIC.com: ''Stroke: First aid''

''A stroke occurs when there's bleeding into your brain, or normal blood flow to your brain is blocked. Within minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells start dying — a process that may continue over the next several hours.

A stroke is a true emergency. Seek immediate medical assistance. The sooner treatment is given, the more likely it is that damage can be minimized. Every moment counts.

If you notice a sudden onset of one or more of the following signs or symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately:

Sudden weakness or numbness in your face, arm or leg on one side of your body
Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision, PARTICULARY in ONE EYE!
Loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding speech
Sudden, severe headache — a bolt out of the blue — with no apparent cause
Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially if accompanied by any of the other symptoms
Risk factors for stroke include having high blood pressure, having had a previous stroke, smoking, having diabetes and having heart disease. Your risk of stroke increases as you age. ''

Self diagnosis and taking action by oneself is difficult because of the cofusion,disorientation and ability move the limbs!

Best that someone is around you,better yet,someone that can recognize and verify symptoms and take immediate action!The key is time before treatment!!!

Focal neurological signs such as slurred speech,discoordination,blurred vision,slurred speech and partial or total paralysis often indicate some sort of brain dysfunction and would be recognized by medical professionals,but might overwhelm a layperson if they had to do a complete check,so STR is easier to remember and could save valuable time allowing less damage!The TONGUE hanging to one side is another possible sign!

SMILE,TALK coherently and RAISE the arms!If any of these sign appear,Rush to the Emergency room,don't wait for a Thai ambulance!!!

MAYO CLINIC.com: ''Stroke: First aid''

''A stroke occurs when there's bleeding into your brain, or normal blood flow to your brain is blocked. Within minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells start dying — a process that may continue over the next several hours.

A stroke is a true emergency. Seek immediate medical assistance. The sooner treatment is given, the more likely it is that damage can be minimized. Every moment counts.

If you notice a sudden onset of one or more of the following signs or symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately:

Sudden weakness or numbness in your face, arm or leg on one side of your body
Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision, PARTICULARY in ONE EYE!
Loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding speech
Sudden, severe headache — a bolt out of the blue — with no apparent cause
Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially if accompanied by any of the other symptoms
Risk factors for stroke include having high blood pressure, having had a previous stroke, smoking, having diabetes and having heart disease. Your risk of stroke increases as you age. ''

Great post Stan, I have got to imagine that high blood pressure is a hugh issue with the expat community in Thailand with all of the drinking and big bellies.
High BP is something that I have dealt with all of my life, I absolutely hate taking the pill everyday but the thought of having a stroke and being fed from a spoon for the rest of my life is not something that interest me much.

Self diagnosis and taking action by oneself is difficult because of the confusion,disorientation and inability move the limbs!

Best that someone is around you,better yet,someone that can recognize and verify symptoms and take immediate action!The key is time before treatment!!!

Focal neurological signs such as slurred speech,discoordination,blurred vision,slurred speech and partial or total paralysis often indicate some sort of brain dysfunction and would be recognized by medical professionals,but might overwhelm a layperson if they had to do a complete check,so STR is easier to remember and could save valuable time allowing less damage!The TONGUE hanging to one side is another possible sign!

Ask the person to SMILE,TALK coherently and to RAISE the arms!If any of these signs appear,Rush to the Emergency room,don't wait for a Thai ambulance!!!

MAYO CLINIC.com: ''Stroke: First aid''

''A stroke occurs when there's bleeding into your brain, or normal blood flow to your brain is blocked. Within minutes of being deprived of essential nutrients, brain cells start dying — a process that may continue over the next several hours.

A stroke is a true emergency. Seek immediate medical assistance. The sooner treatment is given, the more likely it is that damage can be minimized. Every moment counts.

If you notice a sudden onset of one or more of the following signs or symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately:

Sudden weakness or numbness in your face, arm or leg on one side of your body
Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision, PARTICULARY in ONE EYE!
Loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding speech
Sudden, severe headache — a bolt out of the blue — with no apparent cause
Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially if accompanied by any of the other symptoms
Risk factors for stroke include having high blood pressure, having had a previous stroke, smoking, having diabetes and having heart disease. Your risk of stroke increases as you age. ''

I had a TIA, mini stroke in 2003. A TIA is a stroke, but the symtoms pass in minutes or say up to an hour or so. I was asleep dozing about 11pm in front of TV. I woke up, and was very confused. My wife said my eyes were 'weird', well, not normal. I tried to speak, but could not say certain words. This continued up to an hour, and passed, back to normal. I went to internet, and next day put myself on 75mg a day of Aspirin. I had many tests, turns out in my case, i had a leaky heart valve causing blood clot. I was then prescribed the 75mg daily aspirin, which thins the blood. You can have the aspirin covered to avoid damage to the stomach.

My heart valve was replaced 13 months ago, and now i'm on Warfarin, a super aspirin for mechanical heart valves. However, i am convinced, the 75mg aspirin kept stroke/heart attack at bay, 2003-2007! Also, many people take an aspirin around with them. Should you have stroke/heart symtoms, if you slowly suck an aspirin under the tongue, it should save the day until medical tests can find problem. To me, the aspirin is a 'super drug' , and anyone thinking they could maybe be a someone with a profile to suffer stroke, ie: Overweight, no exercise, over 55, smoker, not best diet, family history, i think should maybe consider a daily 75mg aspirin.

Many of the Signs and and Symptoms for a stroke ( CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident ) are not all that obvious.

Most of the posts to date focus on the major clinical signs, but the smaller ones still go un noticed.

Remember when a family member or friend says something is wrong, then its probably correct. it may be just a slight vision impairment, or a missed piece of food into the mouth at the dinner table on a regular basis ( no not at the NM meetings )

The mini aspirins are great, remember they do have some sensitivities still. Ulcers, bleeding disorders etc

Getting to a major hospital who can CAT scan you or MRI you is the key to agressive treatment PROVIDED they have suitable neurologists who will thrombilise you according to international standards ! Remember that major bleeds wont get throbilised as you just bleed much more and eventually compress your brain so much, u die rapidly. ( Thats why the CT / MRI is critical to identify the size / location etc )

You wont even get a suitable O2 therapy given to you in the local ambulances as they dont carry the high concentration O2 masks ( 90-95% ) just a normal 40 % Hudson mask or even worse a nasal cannula at 24% ( air is 21 % ! ) or the Chinese temple rescue units with no O2 at all, just 21% less the CO poisoning from the diesel fumes.

Prevention is better than cure !!! as many posters have confirmed with their own experiences.

check your BP regularly, check your cholesterol levels, regular exercise, give up smoking, monitor ur diet, 1 glass of red wine a day ( NO BM not a 750 ml glass ) a mini aspirin 75 mg daily.

At the end of day we are all going to die, its just what they write on your death certificate that counts.

The Udon registery of births deaths and marriages will have a formal stamp i imagine.

Cause of Death - Retirement in Udon over 20 years LOL

i had a mini 1 about 15 years ago in Pattaya , luckily it was over fast and left no serious lasting damage although a brain scan last year picked up a minor difference than normal.
my left arm suddenly lost all feeling ,like a puppet and facial trauma ,dizzy and pale in the face .
if i had been driving a car or bike it would have been instant crash time. if swimming i would have had no chance, luckily i was having breakfast at the table. no problems since then

izzix wrote:i had a mini 1 about 15 years ago in Pattaya , luckily it was over fast and left no serious lasting damage although a brain scan last year picked up a minor difference than normal.
my left arm suddenly lost all feeling ,like a puppet and facial trauma ,dizzy and pale in the face .
if i had been driving a car or bike it would have been instant crash time. if swimming i would have had no chance, luckily i was having breakfast at the table. no problems since then

izzix, you experienced what is known as a TIA, (A transient ischemic attack)which is a "mini-stroke" caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, which results in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function.

Which can be a wake up call, were you prescribed any medication?

i went for a chat with a prof at London University hospital ,he did a full range of tests ie brain scan ,neck scan ,heart scan ,he just said take an aspirin daily and come back for a check in 1 year . The results from the brain scan was pretty unintelligible to me ,but that was his report . blood pressure is nominally high ,small overeading ,but thats all i can say .