How to identify a stroke

Generally, if you feel ill, it’s a good idea to call your doctor. But if you have certain symptoms, you should go straight to the emergency room.

Many people do not recognize the warning symptoms for stroke and instead call their regular doctor to complain about weakness on one side of the body, blurred vision or trouble talking.

A phone call wastes valuable time, according to new studies.

Researchers from West Virginia University called up local doctors’ offices and asked what advice they would give to patients suffering from a variety of symptoms.

Receptionists correctly sent people to the emergency room for heart attack symptoms, but one-third missed the danger signs for stroke.

Instead, they said they would advise patients to make an appointment later in the day — long after the window for optimal stroke treatment had closed.

In a second study from Australia, researchers found that stroke patients who called their family doctors waited more than SIX HOURS longer for treatment than those who called an ambulance directly.

Stroke symptoms mean the brain is starved for OXYGEN and time is of the essence – so know the warning signs and always call 911 as soon as possible.