A bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions :
FACE ARM SPEAK TIME
Look at the person ' s face for a facial weakness / droop . Ask the person to smile . |
Ask the person to raise both arms |
Ask the person to speak |
Act FAST and take them to the nearest hospital |
If the person with sudden symptoms of weakness has trouble with Any One of these tasks , take them to the hospital immediately by any means possible . If everyone can remember these simple acts , we could save patients from worsening stroke .
“ Small Stroke ” scenario
During a family gathering , Martin stumbled and fell . He assured everyone that he was fine . They offered to take him to the hospital , but he said he had just tripped over because he was tired after a long day . They got him cleaned up and got him a new plate of food . Martin appeared a bit shaken but went about enjoying himself for the rest of the day . Martin ’ s wife later called , telling everyone that her husband had been taken to the hospital early morning the following with total weakness of both the right upper and lower limbs and was unable to talk . Martin had suffered a “ Small stroke ” ( Transient Ischemic Attack ) at the family gathering the previous afternoon , followed by a second major stroke in the early hours of the morning . Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke , perhaps Martin would have been saved from developing a major stroke . Please do not dismiss symptoms of " Small strokes ."
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Management of acute stroke :
The management of acute stroke depends on many factors . Please get the patient to a hospital , and the caregivers will take over and manage the patient appropriately .
Can stroke be prevented ?
Yes , stroke can be prevented . It is much cheaper to prevent a stroke than to manage it once it occurs . Make sure you follow the healthcare provider ' s instructions well . If you have diabetes mellitus , hypertension , high cholesterol , or heart disease , make sure these are well controlled . Take your medications regularly as instructed by your healthcare provider , do regular physical exercises , take an appropriate diabetic diet and medications , take little or no salt in your diet , eat a low cholesterol diet . See a dietician / nutritionist for dietary advice . Do not smoke cigarettes . Smoking in public places is better regulated in Kenya . However , the problem is smoking in private spaces . It is difficult to avoid loved ones who smoke near you ; however , any family member who smokes cigarettes should do so in a distant open space and not in the living room or the bedroom .
If you have gotten a stroke already , make sure you follow the healthcare provider ’ s instructions well . It is important to get Rehabilitation ( physiotherapy , speech therapy , and Occupational therapy ) prescribed by your healthcare provider . These actions will prevent you from getting a second stroke . If you do not have any of the risk factors for stroke , make sure you undergo regular Annual comprehensive medical checkups .
Key Point :
Stroke is preventable . Prevent yourself from getting this devastating illness .