Identifying quickly that someone is suffering from a stroke is vital. But, in order to act quickly, the first step is to be able to diagnose the problem.
Neurology specialists point out that the stroke is the first cause of disabilitythe second cause of death and the second cause cognitive impairment in the adult population.
According to the data of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) in Spain about 110,000 people suffer a stroke every yearof which at least 15% die and, among the survivors, around 30% remain functionally dependent.
The stroke is caused because the circulation of the blood that reaches the brain is interrupted, either due to a break or a blockage of a blood vessel.
And if blood does not reach the brain for several minutes, the nerve cells in the affected area die.
Cortical activation in healthy subjects and stroke patients
| Dr C Grefkes, Uniklinik Köln
The speed of reaction in a stroke is essential
Therefore, quickly identifying that someone is suffering from a stroke becomes vital. But, in order to act quickly, the first step is to identify the problem. And this is not always easy.
He Dr. Xabier Urraneurologist Hospital Clinichighlights that:
- “He brain It is a complex organ and different areas control different functions. Therefore, A stroke can occur suddenly and affect very different functions. of the brain”.
And herein lies the difficulties of recognizing that someone is suffering from a stroke, which can delay medical intervention, with the consequences that this can have.
These three checks can save a life
Still, Dr. Urra recommends that anyone who encounters someone who might have a stroke perform three basic checks.
Quickly identifying that someone is suffering from a stroke becomes vital.
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1 – Ask the person to smile.
The first thing we should do is ask the patient to smile or make a face. Thus, We can check “if that smile is symmetrical or not.”. That is, if he manages to move both sides of the face,” clarifies the Clínic neurologist. If the affected person can only move one of the sidesthis should make us suspect a possible stroke.
2 – Ask him to raise his arms.
The second way to check if a person is having a stroke is to ask them to raise their arms. If you are not able to lift one of the twowe can suspect a stroke.
In the face of a stroke, time is a fundamental factor
| Image by Dirk Van Elslande on Pixabay
3 – Ask him to speak.
Finally, it is important to ask the person to speak. Once he does, in which the Dr. Urra recommends looking at:“If that speech is poorly articulated, he cannot speak or says words without meaning.”
If we are clear about these three checks, we save a lot of time.
- So, if when checking the situation there is “a failure in any of these functions, it would be advisable to call an ambulance directly, call 112.”
Furthermore, knowing these basic recommendations allows, When it comes to calling emergencies, we can already alert the team Let him arrive with the ambulance.
- “This way you can even get the hospital staff waiting at the door arrival of the patient with the suspicion of suffering from a stroke”, concludes Dr. Urra.
Given the Time is a crucial factor in treatment of stroke, this knowledge can help us prevent more serious consequences in case of experiencing this emergency situation.