You’ve heard about stroke, but do you know what it is and what to do if you experience or witness one?
A stroke happens when blood stops flowing to a part of the brain or bleeding occurs in the brain, leading to death of brain cells. In fact, 1.9 million brain cells die every minute after stroke symptoms begin. With stroke, time is brain and we all know how important the brain is. The quicker care is provided, the better the chance for a good outcome.
Ron and Patricia Smith of Nanoose Bay know first-hand how devastating a stroke can be. In November 2012 Ron felt a bit weak so he decided to have a nap. Two hours later he returned to his computer, but his right hand was crawling over the keys; it was sluggish and required all his concentration to move each finger. He looked up “stroke symptoms” online, but “inability to type” did not appear on the list.
“A symptom was present, but one I was more than happy to ignore or rationalize away as anything but a stroke,” said Ron. When his wife Patricia got home, she eventually convinced him to go to the hospital, where the emergency doctor diagnosed a possible stroke. Twenty minutes later while still in emergency, he suffered a massive, life-changing stroke.
In 2014, Heart & Stroke launched the FAST signs of stroke campaign to help more people in Canada recognize the most common signs of stroke and know to call 9-1-1 right away – this can make the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. Other possible signs of stroke include vision changes (blurred or double vision), sudden severe headache (usually accompanied by other signs), numbness (usually on one side of the body) and problems with balance.
Lifesaving treatments are available, but they must be administered as quickly as possible within a few hours of stroke onset. And that’s why it’s so critical to call 9-1-1: paramedics can assess symptoms and know the closest hospital that can provide urgent stroke care.
As for Ron Smith, he’s worked hard on rehabilitation and his recovery, including writing a book, The Defiant Mind: Living Inside a Stroke. In hindsight, his advice to anyone experiencing or witnessing signs of stroke is to the point: “Call 9-1-1. Had I used common sense I could have prevented a lot of unnecessary grief.”
Thank you to the Estate of Eldred Emery Classen for raising awareness of stroke in our community. You can learn more at heartandstroke.ca/FAST.
