Stroke warning signs

[cgallery]

Pappy's wife's scare made me think of this.

Roommate of a friend was recently sent home from work because he was having problems operating the computer at work. When he arrived home, he was having problems walking and speech was slurred.

My friend said his roommate seemed drunk. But, he knew better. Thankfully he took his friend to the hospital and uttered these words: "M roommate is seems drunk but hasn't been drinking. His motor skills are impaired and he seems altered. I am concerned that he has suffered a stroke."

Sure enough, he had suffered a stroke. Unfortunately, too much time had passed at work so no wonder drugs could be administered.

I have an aunt that years ago was taken to the hospital by a neighbor. Aunt was dizzy and throwing up, and her speech was a little slurred. Hospital sent her home. My aunt not her neighbor never mentioned "stroke" at the ER. The ER sent her home, saying it was the flu. Just hours later, she was dead.

So without further ado, stroke warning signs:

• 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

[balzac.thegreat]

EARLY, IMMEDIATE ACTION is the best recourse for surviving a stroke with minimal damage. With a recent scare from my father (He had 2 TIA's within a week of each other), unfortunate, but livable effects from a cousin (He has motor and speech impairment...He is only 43. He didn't think anything was wrong with him. 2 of his roommates saw him and told him he didn't look so hot, but he thought "Ah I can just sleep it off." Luckily the 2nd roommate had the wherewithal to eventually call my aunt who then sent one of my other cousins to check on him. She immediately recognized that something was not right and took him to the ER, but it was many hours after the onset of symptoms.), and not so pleasant outcome of a friend of my parents (she passed away), a stroke's effects and after effects are largely in your own hands. It is better to be safe than sorry...if you feel any of the above symptoms or feel plain odd, even if you think it's all in your head, go to the ER!