If music has the power to move you, then let the ballad, Love Won’t Let Me Wait, written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, and sung by Major Harris, Nancy Wilson, and Luther Vandross, be a reminder to take immediate action when someone you love is experiencing a stroke.
When it comes to stroke, every second counts! Waiting or praying it away are not options if you, a spouse, friend, or family member have a stroke. And what you do in those critical moments can potentially help save someone’s life.
Nearly 2 million brain cells die each minute a stroke remains untreated.
“The most frustrating thing for me as a stroke specialist is that folks will stay home with their symptoms,” said Dr. Carlene Kingston, stroke medical director at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. “They’ll notice that one part of their body isn’t working, and their first call is to their primary care doctor or their spouse. That is never the answer. The answer is to call 911.”
Rapid access to medical treatment often makes the difference between full recovery and permanent disability.
“Several hours passed between the time my boss, Luther Vandross, first experienced a stroke, and I found him,” says Max Szadek.” The time gap hindered his recovery.”
Most strokes are not associated with pain, which often leads people to believe they’re okay, and they wait for the symptoms they’re experiencing to pass. However, with each passing minute, brain cells are dying that will never be recovered.
The national standard for treating ischemic strokes is to administer a tissue plasminogen activator or tPA. This clot-busting medication can potentially reverse the symptoms of stroke within 60 minutes of a patent’s arrival at the ER.
The faster the medication is administered, the better the outcomes are for stroke survivors.
If you do nothing else, act quickly to call 911 and tell the 911 dispatcher, ‘I think I’m having a stroke or ‘I think my loved one is.'”
Use the letters in “F.A.S.T.” to spot stroke signs and know when to call 9-1-1.
F: Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?
A: Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
T: Time to Call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
If you get your spouse, friend, and/or family member to the hospital when symptoms start, the likelihood of surviving and not having any disability much more significant.