Johns Hopkins Health Alert
What To Do When A Stroke Occurs
- It’s common for people to deny the possibility of something as serious as a stroke -- don’t hesitate to take prompt action.
Much more publicity is given to the symptoms of a heart attack than a stroke. Yet like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention—and getting to the hospital as soon as symptoms start is essential, since drug therapy is most likely to be effective within the first three hours of stroke onset.
Listed below are the symptoms of a stroke, as well as what to do in the event of a stroke.
Symptoms of Stroke:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
- Sudden loss, blurring or dimness of vision.
- Mental confusion, loss of memory or sudden loss of consciousness.
- Slurred speech, loss of speech or problems understanding others.
- Sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause.
- Unexplained dizziness, drowsiness, loss of coordination or falls.
- Nausea and vomiting, especially when accompanied by any of the above symptoms.
Actions To Take in the Event of a Stroke:
- Stay calm. Ignore any tendency to downplay a stroke symptom; it’s common for people to deny the possibility of something as serious as a stroke. Don’t hesitate to take prompt action.
- Call or have someone call an ambulance. (Dial 911 in most parts of the United States.) Be sure to give your name, telephone number and exact whereabouts.
- While waiting for the ambulance, the person suffering the stroke should be made as comfortable as possible and should not eat or drink anything other than water.
- If an ambulance cannot arrive for an extended period of time, a family member or neighbor should drive the stroke patient to the hospital. Under no circumstances should the person experiencing the stroke symptoms attempt to drive.
- Notify the stroke patient’s doctor. He or she can provide the hospital with the patient’s medical history, which may be important for determining the best type of treatment for the stroke.
- At the hospital, be sure to list any medical conditions the stroke patient has (such as high blood pressure), any allergies the patient has (particularly to medication) and any medications the patient is currently taking.
Posted in Hypertension and Stroke on April 17, 2006
Reviewed June 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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Interesting. But as you say, it is not always available in every area, or even applied if it is.
Posted by: Marjorie | May 23, 2006 9:57 AM
From the New York Times, 5/28/07: "Lifesaving Opportunities Missed, Before and After Stroke"
"... Although tPA was shown in 1996 to save lives and prevent brain damage, and although the drug could help half of all stroke patients, only 3 percent to 4 percent receive it. Most patients, denying or failing to appreciate their symptoms, wait too long to seek help -- tPA must be given within three hours. And even when patients call 911 promptly, most hospitals, often uncertain about stroke diagnoses, do not provide the drug.
'I label this a national tragedy or a national embarrassment,' said Dr. Mark J. Alberts, a neurology professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. 'I know of no disease that is as common or as serious as stroke and where you basically have one therapy and it's only used in 3 to 4 percent of patients.' "
The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, has begun also to certify certain hospitals as Primary Stroke Centers. In my metropolitan area, only the two largest, center-city hospitals, 30 minutes away, are certified. Yet I am certain that our local EMS would take me only to the nearest hospital if I were having stroke symptoms, and there is virtually no chance that I would receive tPA -- the difference between recovery and long-term disability.
This seems worthy of a great deal more attention.
Posted by: JohnPA | June 18, 2007 12:18 PM
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I'm surprised you did not encourage your readers to explore tPA (tissue plasminogen activator). According to my research, it is very effective if given in the first three hours after a heart attack or stroke. Some of our area hospital emergency rooms have a person on staff 24/7 and are familiar with tPA. At one, however, the person answering the phone didn't know what I was talking about and, when she asked someone, the answer was, "Rarely." Needless to say, I carry a card in my wallet asking EMS to take me to a tPA hospital and giving the hospital permission to administer it in case of a stroke or heart attack diagnosis. Thanks for hosting this site.
Posted by: wpmlenoir@mac.com | May 22, 2006 6:09 AM