True story: At a high school football game two years ago, my dad (then 88), reached for his water bottle and realized he couldn’t pick it up; his hand wouldn’t do what he wanted it to do.
In a lucky coincidence, his primary care doctor was sitting behind him in the bleachers. He turned and showed her his hand and said he couldn’t grab the bottle. While Dad didn’t know what was happening, the doctor did. She motioned for the sideline ambulance crew; Dad was having a stroke.
The good news is that after a few days in the hospital, Dad recovered nearly all of his hand function and had no other side effects. Incredible luck and the doctor’s fast thinking helped limit damage from the stroke.
I’m reminded of Dad’s story because May is American Stroke Month. Below is a handy news item from Cleveland Clinic that’s the next best thing to having a doctor nearby when you’re having a stroke.
For those unfamiliar, a stroke is when blood flow to the brain is blocked or there is bleeding in the brain. According to the CDC, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.
“When a stroke does happen, there is a sudden loss of neurologic function, which can be very devastating and can range from loss of vision, loss of speech, loss of motor function, to complete incapacitation,” explains Amre Nouh, MD, regional chairman of neurology for Cleveland Clinic Florida.
Dr. Nouh says if you suspect someone is having a stroke, try to remember the acronym, “BE FAST.” That stands for balance, eyes, face, arm, speech and time. Is the person experiencing sudden issues with their balance or coordination? Are they having trouble seeing? Do you notice any drooping or numbness in their face or weakness in their arm? Are they having difficulty with their speech? And finally, time, which is a reminder to call 911 right away.
“It’s best to avoid bringing someone in by car because there are a lot of other issues that can happen during a stroke, things like hemodynamic instability, blood pressure issues, and safety. So, leave it to the professionals and call 911 and wait for the ambulance,” Dr. Nouh says.
Treatment options vary based on the severity of the stroke, and the same goes for recovery. In some cases, a person could suffer permanent injury, like paralysis on one side of the body.
