Pricking Fingers: Stroke Prevention Or Old Wives' Tale?

A widely circulated message on social media claims that pricking a needle into the fingertips of a stroke victim can save their life, as they will regain consciousness. The post also states that pulling the victim's ears until they are red and pricking them until they bleed will stop capillaries in the brain from bursting. However, this claim is false and can be harmful. Experts say that pricking the fingers of a stroke victim is a bad idea as it can delay medical treatment, which is the only effective way to help them.

Pricking fingers will not stop a stroke

The message, which is often shared in the form of a chain email or social media post, suggests that pricking the fingers of a stroke victim can help delay symptoms and even save their life. It further advises that pulling and pricking the ears of the victim until they bleed will prevent capillaries in the brain from bursting.

However, medical experts have refuted these claims, stating that pricking the fingers of a stroke victim is not only futile but can also delay crucial medical treatment. Dr. Larry B. Goldstein, Director of the Duke Stroke Center, warns that forcing a stroke victim to sit up, as suggested in the message, can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Instead, it is recommended that the person is helped to lie down and that emergency medical services are contacted immediately.

Dr. Kathleen Burger, Associate Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, emphasizes the urgency of timely treatment during a stroke, stating that every minute of delay results in the death of millions of brain cells that can never be recovered. The best course of action when someone is showing signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulties, is to call an ambulance and get them to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Forcing a stroke victim to sit up is dangerous

The claim that pricking a stroke victim's fingers can help delay symptoms has been circulating since 2006, mainly through chain emails and a video on Facebook. The message suggests that pricking the fingers can relieve blood pressure and ease symptoms. However, this claim has no scientific basis and can cause harm by delaying emergency medical treatment, which is the only effective way to help a stroke victim.

Dr. Mitchell Elkind, a professor of neurology at Columbia University, calls the claim "absolute nonsense." He emphasizes that the best course of action when someone is showing signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or difficulty speaking, is to call an ambulance and get them to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Dr. Kathleen Burger, an associate professor of neurology at George Washington University, warns that unnecessary delays in appropriate stroke treatment can result in the loss of millions of brain cells that can never be recovered. Therefore, it is crucial to act quickly and seek emergency medical attention for a stroke victim rather than attempting unproven methods like pricking their fingers.

Pricking fingers delays medical treatment

Pricking a stroke victim's fingers will not stop a stroke. In fact, it can delay crucial medical treatment.

A viral social media post claims that pricking the fingers of a stroke victim can save their life as they will regain consciousness in a few minutes. The post, which has been viewed and shared millions of times, states that the technique will stop capillaries in the victim's brain from bursting. It also recommends pulling the victim's ears until they are red and pricking them until they bleed.

However, medical experts have refuted these claims, stating that there is no physiological basis for this technique and that it can cause unnecessary bleeding. Dr. Kathleen Burger, Associate Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, warns that "every minute of no treatment, millions of brain cells die and there is no getting those brain cells back."

The only effective way to help a stroke victim is to seek emergency medical treatment. Dr. Mitchell Elkind, a professor of neurology at Columbia University, advises calling an ambulance immediately if a person is showing stroke symptoms such as facial drooping, arm weakness, or difficulty speaking. Time is of the essence, and delaying medical treatment can have severe consequences.

Therefore, it is essential to be cautious of medical advice circulated online or via social media. Always seek information from reliable sources and consult with medical professionals for accurate guidance.

Only emergency medical treatment can help a stroke victim

It is a widely circulated claim that pricking a stroke victim's fingers can help delay symptoms or even save their life. However, this is false. The best thing someone can do for a person showing signs of a stroke is to call emergency medical services and get the person to a hospital as quickly as possible.

There is no medical evidence that using a needle to prick the fingers of someone having a stroke will help them. In fact, it could waste valuable time and delay medical treatment, which is the only thing that can help. Every minute of no treatment, millions of brain cells die, and there is no way to get those brain cells back.

If you think someone is having a stroke, remember to look out for F-A-S-T: Facial droop or facial weakness on one side, Arm weakness on one side, Speech changes (the person may not be able to speak at all or may have severe slurring of speech), and Time to act, call emergency services.

The viral message also states that Chinese experts claim that this method is 100% efficient, but this has been found to be misleading. While a 2005 study by the Tianjin College of Traditional Chinese Medicine suggested that blood-letting puncture could improve consciousness and raise systolic pressure in patients with mild injuries, the patients in the study had already been hospitalized for three days. The article does not advise or imply that such a technique should be used at home on stroke victims instead of seeking immediate medical treatment.

The claim originated from a 2005 study on patients already in hospital

The claim that pricking a stroke victim's fingers can delay symptoms has been circulating online since at least 2003. It is often presented as a Chinese technique that is 100% effective. However, this claim is false and has no scientific basis.

The origin of this claim can be traced back to a 2005 study published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The study investigated the effect of blood-letting puncture at twelve well-points on the hand on patients with early apoplexy, which is a sudden loss of consciousness and sensation. The study found that this technique improved consciousness and raised systolic pressure in patients with mild injuries. However, it is important to note that the patients in this study had already been hospitalized for three days, and the positive results only applied to those with mild injuries.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence, this claim has persisted and has been widely circulated through chain emails and social media posts. The message typically instructs people to prick the fingertips or earlobes of a stroke victim with a sterilized needle, which is supposed to help them regain consciousness. It is often suggested that pulling the victim's ears until they are red and pricking them until they bleed will prevent capillaries in the brain from bursting.

Not only does this technique have no medical basis, but it can also cause unnecessary harm and delay crucial emergency medical treatment, which is the only effective way to help a stroke victim.

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