How to identify a stroke

[Bikingmomof3]

Aaawwww, thanks.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Great info! I will remember this info well, because my mother had a couple of strokes. The crooked smile thing really hits home for me.

[Popoki_Nui]

...or sometimes none of these symptoms, as in the case of my MIL 2 weeks ago. She just felt exhausted and weak in the legs, which was nothing new as she has been getting weaker in the legs for several years. Pupils were equal and reactive, equal strength in both arms and legs, symmetrical smile. It didn't look like any stroke symptoms I'd ever heard of. Sure enough, after the second day in the hospital, she developed the classic one-sided paralysis of a stroke.
Ya just never know....

[kellichou]

http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/stroke.asp

Thank you for the valuable information. I always like to check out what Snopes has to say about a topic, and Mikkelson says that the "tongue sticking out" is less valuable than the first 3 suggestions. But those first 3 things to look for are handy reference points.

Time is of the essence when dealing with a potential stroke--time lost is brain lost. The MOST important thing is getting the person to a hospital as soon as humanly possible. It's also good to beware of nonsense "advice" being tacked onto sound advice--some of the emails going around actually recommend such nonsense as bloodletting from the victim's ears and fingers (!), and driving slowly to the hospital "to prevent further damage" (!). Can you BELIEVE the drivel that some people will throw out there?

Again, no need to waste time--if you have reason to believe a loved one is experiencing a stroke or TIA, call an ambulance. Calling an ambulance immediately is what saved my SO's mother's life a few years ago when she had her stroke.