Would you be able to tell if someone is suffering a stroke?

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It was reported today that former wallabies great Michael Lynagh has been admitted to a Brisbane hospital after potentially suffering a stroke. It begs the question – would you be able to recognise if someone is suffering a stroke?  Do you know what you should be looking out for?

In Australia, stroke is the second most leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease (ABS). Each year, over 11,000 people die of a stoke. There is strong evidence that shows that early intervention and treatment improves the survival rate of stroke sufferers. As part of this, early recognition of a stroke is of vital importance (ARC).

The mnemonic FAST is a simple way to remember the common signs of a stroke.

F – facial weakness – droopy face
A – arm weakness – inability to lower or raise an arm
S – speech difficulty – inability to speak or slurred speech
T – time to act – if you recognise the above signs it’s time to act and call for an ambulance by dialing 000.

The ARC note that even if the warning signs have been resolved , it is still important to have the casualty seek medical assistance and assessment.

Further information about strokes can be found at the Stroke Foundation website.

 

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