Q: Dear Hip Hop M.D.:
Last week, while having breakfast with my grandmother, I noticed that she started speaking funny and food was dribbling out of the corner of her mouth. I couldn't really understand what she was saying and I was really scared. It lasted for about 5 minutes and then she was normal again.
Did she have a stroke?
Miguel from Washington Heights, NYC
A: Dear Miguel,
Thank you for your question. Your concern and love for your grandmother might just save her life. What you are describing is highly suspicious for a mini-stroke or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Mini-strokes are quite dangerous and it is important for your grandmother to see a doctor immediately. People who have mini-strokes are at high risk for a big stroke in the days and weeks after it occurs. By seeing a doctor and being diagnosed, your grandmother can be treated effectively with medications and/or procedures that can potentially save her life. Please make sure your grandmother sees a doctor as soon as possible and if any of the following symptoms occur, please call 911:
- Sudden numbness of weakness in one or both sides of the body
- Sudden difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or confusion
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Sudden dizziness, incoordination, or loss of balance
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Another way of remembering the symptoms of stroke is with the word FAST. Although FAST doesn't capture all of the stroke symptoms listed above, it's a good way to remember the most common symptoms and a reminder of how important it is to act quickly because effective treatment exists that can only be given within a short time window.
F is for the Face: One or both sides of the face droops down.
A is for Arm: One or both arms drifts down or cannot be lifted up.
S is for Speech: Speech sounds slurred and it is difficult to understand.
T is for Time: Time to call '911'! Time is brain and stroke is an emergency.
Do YOU have an important question for the Hip Hop Doc? Email him at hiphopdoc@hiphoppublichealth.org
