Taking Care

My lovely friend elisem had a stroke this week. Thanks to quick recognition of the symptoms, fast reaction time by Brooklyn EMTs, and quick intervention, she is not only alive, but apparently has suffered minimal damage.

She has, because she really is a lovely person, asked that anyone who cares about her remind all the other people we care about of the warning signs of stroke. That means you. So:

* numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
* confusion, trouble in speaking or understanding
* trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* severe headache with no known cause.

If one or more of these things hit you or someone you're with, the time to act is now. Don't wait for it to pass--if it's an eschemic stroke (one caused by a blood clot) there's only a short window to offer TPA, the treatment that can break that clot and any other forming in the body. Even if it's an hemmorhagic stroke (for which TPA is not indicated) you want to be where professionals know how to minimize the damage.

And if you wind up going to the ER and it's none of those things? Well, it might be something else you don't want (do not ask me what: despite my fascination with medical neep I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV). Just don't mess around. Seek help, please.

So I can keep seeing you around.