STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters.... S. T. R. STROKE IDENTIFICATION: During a BBQ, Jane stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call the ambulance), she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They helped her up and she resumed eating her food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening Her husband called later and told everyone that his wife had been taken to hospital. At 6:00 pm Jane passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with her family today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition in a nursing home instead. Please take the time to read this. Neurologists say they can totally reverse the effects a stroke if they can help the victim within 3 hours .... totally reverse the effects of a stroke. The trick was recognising a stroke, diagnose, and then get the patient medical care within the 3 hours, which can be a challenge. RECOGNIZING A STROKE Remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Remember! Symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify and vary from person to person. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness can spell disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage while people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. A bystander can recognise a stroke by asking three simple questions: *S* Ask the individual to SMILE. *T* Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today). *R* Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS. NOTE: Another sign of a stroke can be evident if you ask the person to Stick The Tongue Out. Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, it could also an indication of a stroke. If they have trouble with ANY of these tasks, call emergency immediately, and describe the symptoms to the operator. If everyone emails this to 10 people, at least one life will be saved. I have done my part. Will you?

Good one Granny. I have duly copied, pasted and emailed to my contacts.


My Dad had a stroke. He was 84 and already had a long term heart condition. When we arrived at the hospital, he couldn't talk. Up until this point he was mentally as bright as a button. In fact, he was a chatterbox!

He'd previously stated he didn't want medical intervention in any event, so the Doctors just made him comfortable and he passed later in the evening.

At his stage of life it wasn't too upsetting for us, but it would be awful to see a family member suffer after a stroke.

I agree. A sudden death is a shock and hard to take at the time, but a long drawn-out illness where they waste away and become a shadow of their former selves is awful. My maternal grandparents raised me after my mum died suddenly when I was 4. When I was 14, my grandmother died suddenly aged 66. Eighteen months later my grandfather passed away after suffering bone cancer. He wasted away after grandmother died. He was 68. My last memory of him was a grey shadow on the hospital bed. He died 2 days later. Keep travelling I say.

How right you are Granny, my Dad passed away suddenly two years ago, and it was horrible - for a while - however, my mother is wasting away in a nursing home with dementia, is at the point she doesn't know us, and sadly does not comprehend that she became a great-grandmother for the first time last week.

That's so sad. A new generation follows her and she doesn't know it. Now that's cruel for the family. Not her. She doesn't know.

i think id rather go quick then dementia, been thru that with my mum too...

My husband died from a stroke 16 months ago - very sudden and unexpected - at the time I was devestated as you can imagine - but I can honestly say that I am happy he went so quickly - it would have been horrific to see this very active man reduced to someone completely incapable of doing anything for himself. I miss him every day - but I know he would not have wanted to live that way. My mother had alzheimers, and deteriorated over a five year period to the point I didn't even recognise here when I went to visit - it was horrible - she knew nothing, or no-one - I am a firm believer in quality over quantity. I can only hope that I go as quickly as my darling did, when it is my time.

And you have all those loving, happy memories to go on with. You could have been left with the vision of the shadow of a loved one on the bed in their last days. I know which I'd cope with better. Let's all try and stay as health and as upright as we can, for as long as possible, so we can enjoy this life, and remember it.