Laura Evensen, MPH, the Behavioral Research Director of the stroke division at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, is working to figure out why some people are less likely to have a stroke. We chatted with her about what she has found out so far through her research and experience.
Q: What is the one thing that everyone should know about stroke?
A: Everyone should know these three quick steps if you think you're having a stroke:
- Go to a mirror and smile. If your smile is crooked, then you may be having a stroke.
- Hold up your arms and close your eyes. If you open your eyes and see that one of your arms has fallen down, then you may be having a stroke.
- Say the words: "It's sunny in New York." If you can't say those words clearly, you may be having a stroke.
If any one of those things happens to you, you need to call 9-1-1. That's the most important thing: call 9-1-1.
When you're having a stroke, you can receive treatment within 3 hours. So, the faster you can get to the emergency room, the more likely you can receive treatment. We find that calling 9-1-1 gets you treatment faster than any other method, like asking your friends or family to bring you to the emergency room-it cuts down time when you arrive at the hospital.
If you would like more information about joining a bilingual stroke support group in Northern Manhattan, please contact Laura at 212-342-1498 or via e-mail at: lab46@mail.cumc.columbia.edu. You can also contact her colleagues Carly Klein at 212-305-1372 or ck2316@mail.cumc.columbia.edu; or Veronica Perez at 212-342-4749 or vp2184@mail.cumc.columbia.edu.
beautifulsunshine February 10, 2024 - 7:23pm
I agree with Ms. Laura Evensen that we should know and recognize the signs of stroke as early as we can. Ten years ago, my uncle had a stroke, but because he didn’t understand the symptoms, he thought he had a common cold. He was not able to raise his arms, and lost his balance while walking. His speech was slurred and his face was numb. Despite having these severe signs, he thought he just needed to take cold medicine and rub medicated oil on his skin to warm his body. At that time, our whole family had no knowledge of stroke and its signs. My uncle said he was okay, so we just took care of him as if he had a cold. Fortunately, a friend came by to my house, noticed his condition, and called 911 to have him sent to the emergency room right away. My uncle got better after that, and he is considered a stroke survivor. We learned then that the more my family and I understand the warning signs of a stroke from information from our doctors and health information websites, the better we can take care of our family. With strokes, the faster you can receive treatment, the better, as there will be a higher chance to reduce its dangerous effects. In my uncle’s case, if my friend who knew the signs of stroke had not come by my house that night, I’m sure my uncle would have been much worse off. I felt badly that I didn’t know the signs earlier in order to take him to ER sooner. The health tips mentioned by Ms. Evenson can be beneficial for everyone.