This page of the "Life Skills" section of the web site could literally be a life-saver, since a stroke can be difficult to recognise but, if identified and reported quickly, can be treated very effectively.

The most common, typical symptoms of a stroke are:

• drooping and weakness of one side of the face
• sudden weakness or numbness of an arm or a leg
• communication problems
• loss of sight or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• sudden confusion
• severe, unexplained headaches
• dizziness or unsteadiness

These signs may only last a few hours (called a Transient Ischaemic Attack – TIA) but must not be ignored.

If you think that someone around you is having or has had a stroke, the best tests to identify whether this is the case can be remembered from the intitials F.A.S.T.. This requires an assessment of three specific symptoms of a stroke:

• Facial weakness - Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
• Arm weakness - Can the person raise both arms?
• Speech problems - Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
• Test all three symptoms and, if the answer to any of the above questions in 'No', it's Time to call the emergency services.

To repeat: failure to perform any these simple tasks should be taken as a sign of a likely stroke and emergency services should be called at once.

Note: My mother had a stroke while she was alone. I wish that I'd be there and known what to recognise.

Links:
The British Stroke Association click here
The American Stroke Association click here
A stroke resource guide click here

ROGER DARLINGTON

Last modified on 31 January 2011

If you have some ideas of your own e-mail me

To access all my advice on life skills click here