"May,
its May the lusty month of May..." It is one of my favorite songs from the
musical Camelot. It is where Guinevere sings this song with the chorus with joy
and abandonment. Mayis a delicious month. The mountains in
the Rockies may still have snow on their peaks, but the slopes are green and
the creeks are beginning to roar with icy cold melt from the snow.
May also is National Stroke Month. It
is critical that everyone knows the signs of stroke and reacts immediately.
Stroke patients have a small window to reach a hospital where they can get brain saving treatment. There is no benefit in waiting. Immediate treatment is
required to determine the type of stroke:
ischemic: to simply state a clot or
blockage
hemorrhagic: to simply state a bleed either
inside the brain or inside outside.
Once the type of stroke is determined then
treatment can begin. There is only a 3-41/2 window for the clot-busting drug:
tissue plaminogen activator (tPA).
Call 911 Immediately when you see the
following signs or symptoms:
•
Sudden loss of balance or coordination
•
Sudden change in vision (either in one or both
eyes)
•
Sudden weakness of the face (ask them to smile)
•
Sudden difficulty speaking (can’t speak or the person's mouth is moving and nothing comes out or nothing understandable is spoken)
•
Sudden loss of ability to do a simple task
•
Time the symptom started
Don't let the person talk you out of calling 911.
Laying down and letting this headache pass, blurry vision go away,
inability to stand up is just a fleeting thing may be their excuse, but if this
is out of the ordinary you make the call. Your call can make the difference between
life, disability, and death. Remember that 32,000 brain cells die every
second. You need to be decisive and act fast.
If you want your loved ones to be merry not only in
May, but throughout life, know the signs of stroke and react fast.
