May 16, 2011 @ 5:11 PM by Ron Pyle (Subscribe to Ron Pyle's posts)

Tags: health

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify… Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE
2. Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE(Coherently)
3. Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

New sign of a Stroke:  ask the person to Stick out his or her tongue, If the tongue is crooked, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.