How to spot someone having a stroke
Print Edition
THERE are three simple steps in determining if someone is suffering a stroke: Is the person’s face droopy or lopsided? Is there weakness in one arm? Is speech slurred?
The three telltale symptoms are encompassed in a public health acronym known as FAST — face, arm and speech and then timely response. It was developed in the UK in 1998 by a group of stroke physicians, ambulance personnel and an emergency room physician as a means of alerting the public and medical staff to stroke symptoms.
“A stroke is not like a sudden heart attack,” said Zhao Jing, a neurologist at Minhang District Central Hospital.
“Some people don’t show obvious symptoms in the earlier stage of a stroke. Therefore, the chance for early intervention can be missed. On average, Chinese patients are about 15 hours late for treatment, which can lead to tragedies.”
Every year, about 7 million people in China suffer stroke, with 1.5 million dying. Half of stroke patients are between 40 and 64 years old.
Any person exhibiting one or more of the danger signals should be rushed to hospital immediately.
“If a stroke patient is treated within five hours after the symptoms show up, the prognosis is good,” said Zhao.
If a person suspects himself of having a stroke, he should lie down and immediately call for help, she said, reminding people that a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent stroke.
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