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As medical professionals, it is critical that we recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
All symptoms of a stroke are sudden or rapid. In addition to blurred vision in one or both eyes,
symptoms of a stroke include numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg or one side of the body;
confusion; difficulty speaking; dizziness; loss of balance; difficulty walking; or a severe headache.
If you believe that a patient is having a stroke, you must quickly examine his or her:
- Face. Ask the patient to smile and evaluate his or her face for asymmetry or droopiness.
- Arms. Ask the patient to raise both arms and see if one arm drifts downward.
- Speech. Ask your patient to repeat a simple phrase and listen for slurred or incomprehensible speech.
If you suspect that a patient has had a stroke, time is of the essence. In fact, you have just a three-hour
window in which patients may be treated successfully with a clot-blocking agent, such as tissue plasminogen
activator (tPA). If treated within this critical period, the individual is at least 30% more likely to
recover with no disability. But ultimately, the sooner the treatment, the better the prognosis.
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