 BY KIM REUFFER RN
My cousin recently suffered a stroke, awoke with an
inability to speak and right sided weakness. She managed to awaken her husband
who recognized what was happening and immediately DROVE her to the hospital.
Fortunately she did not suffer any glaring deficits. This reminded me how we
have to constantly remind people at the first sign of a stroke PLEASE DON'T
DRIVE, CALL 911!!! I asked my cousin's husband the what if's "what if he had an
accident en route to the hospital? what if my cousin's condition deteriorated en
route to the hospital???
Had he called 911 immediately the paramedic's can
be in constant contact with the ER physician, establish IV access, apply oxygen,
get an EKG strip, do a baseline neurological exam, so as soon as they roll into
the ER, they can roll her into the CAT scan to check for a bleed and begin TPA
if it is needed.The 8 minute drive my cousin's husband took could have
seriously deprived her brain of much needed oxygen and the results could have
been devastating.
Please Don't Drive! 911 is there for saving your
life, use them!!!!!! |
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| LOW COST HEALTH COVERAGE
BY KIM REUFFER RN
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 We all know the statistics, 47 million American's
lack health care insurance. But many of them are eligible for government
programs or low cost health coverage and don't know it.
The non profit Foundation for Health Coverage
Education (FHCE) offers information about resources available to people
nationwide.As part of it's "Coverage for All" campaign, it offers help and
resources through a user friendly Web site. An easy to use health insurance
eligibility tool shows people what programs they may be eligible for based on
their answers to five questions and the state where they live. The FHCE also
maintains a 24hour help line with operators available to answer questions around
the clock.
Kim |
| CIGARETTES ARE BAD FOR YOU AFTER YOUR STROKE...
by Peter V Cornelis
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 Ah yes, breath in that delicious lifesaving smoke. Okay I'm definitely kidding. Smoking is not a good thing to do (Kim and Sue), you can call me later and yell at me, and everyone else. I am sure everyone that smokers hates me right now and that is okay.Today the Marlboro man does not smoke, he figured out that the toxins and poisons that are in a cigarette did him no good.
If you have had a stroke, you are lowering your oxygen intake, raising your blood pressure, carrying these poisons and toxins into every where blood flows. It causes not only cancer, but if you have had an Ischemic stroke it will harden artery walls, if you have an aneurysm, it is like putting miracle grow on it and it will grow in size like crazy. Smoking also does damage at the cellular level.
Really I like my friends and would care to see them around. Yes, I am an ex smoker and my aneurysm doubled in size, burst and left me paralyzed and unable to talk for a year. Because I smoked... after everything you have been through, why hold a gun to your head. Give the habit that controls your life up.
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