In this podcast, a wife has brought her husband to the emergency room.
Health professional: Mrs. Smith, when exactly did you notice that your husband began to slur his words?
Patient: Just after we finished lunch. He couldn’t ask for his coffee.
Health professional: Did you notice anything else?
Patient: Yes, his face looked funny.
Health professional: In what way?
Patient: His mouth drooped down.
Health professional: Was it only one side of his face?
Patient: Yes, the left side, I think.
Health professional: When you spoke to him, did he seem confused? Was he able to talk to you?
Patient: Yes, he was confused. He couldn’t answer when I spoke to him.
Health professional: Did your husband try to stand or walk?
Patient: He tried, but he felt dizzy and he lost his balance. He almost fell down.
Health professional: Did your husband say his head hurt or that he had a headache?
Patient: I’m not sure. It was very difficult to understand him.
Health professional: Mrs. Smith, you were right to call for help for your husband immediately. You may have saved his life.
Teacher: So, this patient had many easily identifiable symptoms that indicated that something was wrong. What were some of the patient’s visible symptoms?
Student: He slurred his words?
Teacher: Yes, that means his speech was not clear. What else?
Student: He seemed confused. His wife could not understand him. His mouth was droopy?
Teacher: Yes, that means the muscles around his mouth were too relaxed. What about his balance?
Student: He had bad balance?
Teacher: Yes, the patient’s mobility was affected. He was not able to walk in a straight line. By looking at various bodily functions, that would usually be considered normal, it was easy for the health professional to determine that the patient had had a stroke. The visible abnormalities with mobility, speech, and facial differences helped him determine this.