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PROMOTING WELLNESS
by Mary Jo Dalton, Health Ministry Nurse
First United Methodist Church, Santa Monica, CA
www.santamonicaumc.org :: (310) 393-8258 :: info@santamonicaumc.org

Recognizing a Stroke


If a stroke is recognized, diagnosed and treated within the first few hours the chances of reversing the effects are much better.

If you see a person having some difficulty in numbness or weakness, sudden confusion, sudden dizziness, sudden unsteadiness, sudden difficulty hearing, sudden severe headache or sudden onset of nausea becoming severe, you should ask him or her three simple questions:
1. Can you smile?
2. Can you raise Both Arms?
3. Can you speak a simple sentence?

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. You could prevent brain damage.