Stroke Patients' Smiles: The Power Of Positivity And Care

Strokes are a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate attention. They occur when there is an issue with blood flow to the brain, either due to blocked or bleeding blood vessels. To recognise the warning signs of a stroke, it is important to act F.A.S.T. or B.E. F.A.S.T. by checking for face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call emergency services. When asking a stroke patient to smile, one is checking for face drooping, which is a key indicator of a stroke.

Face: Droopiness on one side of the face

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, one of the key things to look out for is droopiness on one side of the face. Ask the person to smile and check if their smile is uneven. This is a common symptom of a stroke and can indicate muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the face.

If you notice this sign, it is important to act quickly. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Do not drive the person to the hospital or let someone else drive them. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin providing life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. Time is critical in treating a stroke, and every minute counts.

In addition to facial droopiness, other signs of a stroke include weakness in the arm, with one arm drifting downward when asked to raise both arms, and speech difficulty, such as slurred or strange speech. These signs may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble seeing, dizziness, or severe headache.

Remember the acronym FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) to help you identify the signs of a stroke and know when to take action. Stroke is a life-threatening condition and immediate medical attention is critical to prevent permanent damage or death.

Arm: Weakness in the arm, causing it to fall to the side

If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, it is important to act F.A.S.T. and do the following test:

Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift or fall downward? This is a common sign of a stroke, as the person may experience weakness in their arm, causing it to fall to their side. They may not be able to lift it at all. This is often accompanied by a drooping face on one side and difficulty speaking.

If you notice any of these signs, it is crucial to call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if the symptoms go away, as every minute counts when treating a stroke. The faster the person receives treatment, the more likely they are to recover without disability.

In addition to the F.A.S.T. test, you can also look out for other signs of a stroke, such as:

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or lack of coordination

If you or someone you know is exhibiting any of these signs, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Stroke is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage or death.

Speech: Slurred or strange speech

Speech difficulties are one of the most well-known signs of a stroke. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Listen for slurred or strange-sounding speech. They might also have trouble choosing the right words or garble their words. This is known as aphasia or dysarthria.

Slurred speech is a result of muscle weakness or paralysis in the face and mouth. A stroke can affect Broca's area, the part of the brain that controls how we use the muscles in our face and mouth to speak.

If you notice any of these signs, it's important to act F.A.S.T. and call 911 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin treatment as soon as possible. Time is critical in treating a stroke, and every minute counts.

In addition to speech difficulties, other common stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
• Loss of balance, dizziness, or lack of coordination.

Time: Call 911 immediately if you observe any of the above signs

Strokes are a life-threatening medical emergency and acting quickly can save lives and prevent permanent disability. If you observe any of the signs outlined in the F.A.S.T. test, call 911 immediately.

F.A.S.T. stands for Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. To perform the test, ask the person to smile, then raise both arms, and repeat a simple phrase. If one side of their face droops, or their smile is uneven, this is a sign of muscle weakness or paralysis. If one arm drifts downward, this indicates one-sided weakness. If their speech is slurred, strange, or garbled, they may be experiencing aphasia, or difficulty with or loss of speaking ability.

If you observe any of these signs, it's time to call 911. Do not drive the person to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin treatment immediately and minimise the risk of permanent brain damage. During a stroke, every minute counts—on average, 1.9 million brain cells die every minute that a stroke goes untreated.

In addition to F.A.S.T., there are other signs that someone is having a stroke. These include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
• Sudden trouble seeing from one or both eyes
• Sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or lack of coordination

Balance: Watch for a sudden loss of balance

Balance problems are a common symptom of a stroke and can negatively affect a person's ability to perform daily activities and recover their ability to walk, as well as increasing their risk of falling. As such, balance assessment is an important part of stroke patient treatment.

There are various tests that can be used to assess balance in stroke patients, including:

• The Single Leg Stance test
• The Functional Reach Test
• The Berg Balance Scale
• The Brunel Balance Assessment
• The Timed "Up & Go" test
• The Trunk Impairment Scale

The Single Leg Stance test is the most commonly used test by physical therapists. This test, along with the Functional Reach Test and the Berg Balance Scale, are functional performance tests that are preferred by therapists due to their simplicity.

The Brunel Balance Assessment is a 12-point hierarchical ordinal scale (pass/fail) test, with a score range of 0-12. It is suitable for use in clinical settings, such as at the hospital bedside, treatment area, or the patient's home.

The Timed "Up & Go" test is a single-item test that requires the subject to stand up, walk 3 metres, turn back, and sit down again. The total time taken to complete these sequential movements is recorded, with a time of under 10 seconds indicating normal mobility.

The Trunk Impairment Scale is a standardised personal measure that can be used to assess balance.

Balance assessment for stroke patients is critical as it helps to set up treatment objectives, determine treatment methods, and suggest progression and prognosis. Using objective balance measurement tools is important for evidence-based practice to improve balance ability.

Frequently asked questions