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Most people do not know the five warning signs of a stroke and what to do if they suspect one — especially those most likely to suffer one, according to new research.
Older people and those who’ve already had a stroke were among the groups found to be least able to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and know to immediately call 911.
No demographic group did extremely well, but minorities, people with lower incomes and those with less education also fared poorly.
The findings stem from a telephone survey of more than 86,000 people conducted in 2007 in 11 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. Those polled were asked five questions to determine if they knew stroke symptoms and if they knew what to do if someone is having a stroke.
Fewer than two in five people surveyed knew all five warning signs and knew to call 911, the survey found. The results were to be presented Thursday at the International Stroke Conference in San Diego.
“We have to make sure that people know the signs and symptoms of stroke because the patient would need to get to the hospital as soon as possible to have a much higher chance of survival and avoiding potential disabilities,” the survey’s lead author, Dr. Jing Fang, an epidemiologist in the division for heart disease and stroke prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said in a news release issued by the American Stroke Association, which is sponsoring the conference.
Some of the warning signs of stroke appeared to be better known than others. About 93 percent of the survey respondents knew that sudden weakness in the face, arm or leg was a symptom, but only 59 percent knew that a sudden severe headache with no known cause was also one.
The other warning signs of stroke are: sudden vision problems in one or both eyes, sudden confusion or difficulty speaking and sudden dizziness, loss of balance, loss of coordination or difficulty walking.
The survey revealed “a big disparity in age, gender, race, income and education” when it comes to knowledge of warning signs, Fang said. “If we want to improve awareness, we should be more focused on those populations who were less aware of the signs,” he said.
(Source: American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, news release, Feb. 19, 2009)
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3 Responses
I want to bring something to your attention. Several weeks ago Rabbi Ginsberg wrote an article in the Yated and shared some signs of how to determine if one is suffering from a stroke. Maybe post that article for people’s attention.
Yasher Koach!
One easy way to tell if someone is having a stroke or not, is to ask them to lift their arms most victims who are having a stroke will not be able to lift their arms above their head. A few weeks ago former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, had stroke. The only way they were able to catch it in time was because one of his bodyguards realised they he forgot what appointments he had that day, and Ed koch never forgot anything. The body Guard called 911, and Ed Koch was out of the hospital a day later!!
Six years ago I was diagnosed as having had a stroke at age 46. One month ago, my sister (age 52)suffered a brain bleed from which, B’Hashem, she has had no ill effects. Besides lifting the arms, as the person to stick out his or her tongue. In a stroke, the tongue will generally slant to one side. Secondly, look at their face. In a stroke, many times the facial muscles will drop on one side of the face or the mouth will slant to one side and sometimes droop, plus, the stroke victim generally will not be able to smile. The most telling symptom to me is an excruciating, radiating, and unexplained severe headache or migraine. One’s grip in a handshake will also sometimes be weakened. A final tell tale sign of a stroke is when someone can no longer repeat a simple phrase of words or sentences. Don’t think because someone is young that they can’t have a stroke. Stokes are becomming more common place as individual stressors intensify in our society.