Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Knowing the signs of a stroke is critical in saving a life. In an effort to offer awareness, McLeod Health Cheraw wants to empower area residents with this knowledge to be first responders in saving a life.

When a stroke occurs, patients can have multiple symptoms. One of these symptoms is temporary blindness. “Imagine a curtain coming down over the eye,” said Dr. Eva Rzucidlo, of McLeod Vascular Associates. “The vision is clear with one eye, but one cannot see at all out of the other eye.

“There are many stroke patients I have cared for who had this warning symptom two or three times before their stroke. These patients didn’t realize it was a warning symptom — and ignored it. We want people to be able to recognize the signs and get help,” she added.

Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body is another symptom of stroke. This can occur anytime. It can be quickly dismissed as simple numbness due to circulation. But the reality is it is an issue of circulation to the brain, and it is a warning symptom of an impending stroke.

Finally, one can experience disturbances in language. Some people having a stroke will experience one of two kinds of problems with language: expressive aphasia or receptive aphasia.

Expressive Aphasia — Everything is comprehended — such as what is seen and read — but verbal communication can come out in grunts and groans. With expressive aphasia the brain interrupts the message between language and speaking it.

Receptive Aphasia — Everything the patient hears sounds like a foreign language, but they don’t understand what is being said, so they try to respond spontaneously, offering random words.

“If you witness someone exhibiting the signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately,” said Rzucidlo. “Every minute counts for stroke treatment. Brain damage can begin within minutes so it is important to know the symptoms of a stroke and act fast.

“It is also important to note the time when the symptoms first appear, and report it to the medical personnel. For effective stroke treatment, it is vital that the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within the first three hours of the initial symptom,” she continued.

If you believe you may have experienced any of these symptoms, discuss this with your primary care physician, or for more information, visit www.mcleodhealth.org.

F.A.S.T.: If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

F-FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A-ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S-SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

T-TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Rzucidlo
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_McLeod_Eva-Rzucidlo.jpgRzucidlo

For the Daily Journal