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Most Americans Unaware of Five Major Stroke Symptoms
Most Americans are unaware of the major warning signs of stroke and the need to call 911, according to a CDC survey in MMWR.
The telephone survey, conducted in 2005 on nearly 72,000 people in 13 states and the District of Columbia, found that just 44% could recognize all five warning symptoms:
- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg;
- sudden Item or trouble speaking;
- sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance;
- sudden trouble seeing;
- severe headache.
Only 38% recognized all of these plus the need to dial 911 immediately; the Healthy People 2010 goal is to increase this number to 83%.
The authors say clinicians "should continue to stress the importance of learning to recognize stroke symptoms and the need to telephone 911 when someone appears to be having a stroke."
LINK(S):
MMWR article (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch May 9, 2008