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.