by Linda Schoene, Parish Nurse
Early identification of and prompt treatment for stroke can save lives. Sometimes
the signs of a stroke can be subtle, but when warning signs appear, quick treatment
improves the chances for recovery.
What is a stroke? Strokes occur when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted by a clot or when a blood vessel bursts and blood is spilled into the spaces surrounding the brain cells.
What are the risk factors for a stroke? While strokes do seem to run in families, the most significant risk factors include: high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol consumption.
What are the warning signs? Not all of these warning signs happen with every stroke. Sometimes they go away and come back. If they do occur, it is important to get help very quickly.
There is an email circulating about “The Smile Test” as a way to
identify a stroke. This test consists of asking an individual to do the following:
This test is a result of a very small study funded by the American Stroke Association. While the results were positive, the American Stroke Association has not endorsed this test. Certainly, if an individual is not able to perform one of the above requests, call 911. It is, however, possible for someone to be having a stroke and still be able to perform these three tasks. The stroke warning signs listed above The Smile Test remain the endorsed standard for stroke identification. If you or someone in your presence experiences any of these warning signs, call 911.