Canadians don’t treat stroke as a medical emergency

A surprising new report by the Heart and Stroke Foundation shows at least half of Canadians don’t recognize signs of a stroke as a medical emergency.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Canada and claim 14,000 lives every year

Apparently, we’re not getting a very important message.

“With stroke, every minute counts,” says Dr. Sandra Black, Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson. “Time is brain. Each minute delay in calling 9-1-1 increases the odds of permanent brain damage, disability or death.”

The survey showed only 43% of Albertans would call 911 if someone they knew experienced the warning signs of a stroke. That’s lower than the national average of 49%.

Either way, the numbers aren’t good. The Heart and Stroke Foundation says it’s critical for people to recognize the warning signs and then react by calling 9-1-1.

There is a treatment for the most common kind of stroke, caused by a blood clot feeding the arteries in the brain. But, it must be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

All too often, people confuse a stroke with something much less serious.

“I woke up that morning and went to get up and my arm was numb, I just thought I had slept on it the wrong way,” says Calgarian Lori Beaver, who suffered a stroke at 46.

“Must be the flu, it’ll be better when I get home,” she said, as she drove herself from a friend’s house in Black Diamond to her home in Calgary.

“I think now, for myself, if I had known the signs I would have stopped at the hospital or would have called 911…I wasted about two and a half hours,” says Beaver, who was treated at the Foothills and spent 3 months in hospital recovering.

With a lot of hard work, Beaver has learned to speak and walk again, she’s now working and driving her own car.

But 15% of stroke patients will die and 40% are left with a moderate to severe impairment.

The five symptoms to watch for are weakness, or sudden loss of strength in face, arms or legs. Difficulty speaking, vision problems, a headache and dizziness.

Call 911 if you see someone experiencing these symptoms.