Once I had a horse named Louie, who constantly runs in and out of my mind, but this week more so than usual.

When I first got Louie, for some unknown reason, he was terrified of horse trailers; it was a major ordeal to get him in one. One day, a horse trainer asked me if I would let him work with Louie for a couple of hours— he guaranteed that when he was finished, all I would have to do would be to simply open the trailer door and Louie would magically jump in. The trainer’s only request of me was to leave so I could not watch the training session. With visions of animal cruelty fueling my reluctance, I fell back on my trust of the trainer and drove away.

Last week, a close family friend suffered a stroke. I stood speechless in disbelief as I listened to the course of events leading up to his transport to the hospital. It dawned on me— maybe my friends didn’t heed the warning signs because they couldn’t see or hear them. 

Every 53 seconds, someone has a stroke, and it’s the third leading cause of death in the United States. There are two types of stroke: ischemic (blocking blood flow) and hemorrhagic (break in a blood vessel). It is impossible to distinguish which type of stroke someone is having without diagnostic testing using computerized tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For this reason, it is important not to give aspirin to someone you suspect of having a stroke. Also, a stroke can compromise one’s ability to swallow, causing aspiration and/or choking.

The following are symptoms of stroke:

· Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

· Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking, or understanding speech

· Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes

· Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

· Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, you need to call 911 and get to a hospital right away; even if the symptoms resolve quickly, a stroke may have occurred. 

Also, it is significant to note the last time the person you suspect of having a stroke was his or her normal self. The physician will need this time line to formulate the most appropriate care. Communicate with the person, determine if he or she is alert, and ask him or her to say “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” A person should respond with no wrong or mixed up words and without slurred speech. Ask the person his or her age and then what month it is. If, however, the person can answer the questions and repeat the “old dog” phrase perfectly but has any of the above symptoms, call 911. A stroke is an emergency and quick medical intervention can be life saving.

I am a firm believer in “You CAN teach an old horse new tricks.” When I returned to the horse barn that day, as I opened the horse trailer door, Louie nearly ran me over as he jumped in.

The key to better health is learning and applying what we’ve learned. Remember, just like Louie, we can learn to do things once thought of as uncomfortable and do them quickly and efficiently. 

Do not hesitate if you suspect a stroke. Every second counts— call 911 immediately!

Contact Howard Baker, RN BSN at howard@howardsbaker.com.