Judy Farrell, known for her role as Nurse Able on the hit series M*A*S*H, has died at the age of 84, nine days after suffering a stroke. The silent condition is notorious for striking its victims out of the blue, but in some cases, symptoms have been known to appear well in advance.
Judy’s son, Michael, confirmed to TMZ that his mother had remained conscious after the stroke, and was able to squeeze her loved ones’ hands.
In a statement shared with PA news agency, Judy’s husband, Mike, added: “She was taken to a nearby hospital and all six of us have chosen times to be with her for the week she was there, doing what we could to support her as she seemed to stabilise.
“We were encouraged that she was to be moved to a rehab facility last Sunday, but she suddenly passed away early that morning.”
Major symptoms at the onset of a stroke are numbness or weakness in the face, arms and legs, which signal blood supply to the brain has been cut off due to a blockage in a major vessel.
If this blood supply isn’t restored imminently, the affected part of the brain could succumb to long-term damage, resulting in disability.
Though these accidents tend to appear out of the blue, experts have consistently stressed that spotting the signs early could save lives.
Luca Rado, founder of the Live In Care Company, told express.co.uk which early warning signs you should be on the lookout for.
Don’t miss…
Warning signs of a stroke you may not know [INFORMER]
Unusual signs of a stroke you may not be aware of[INSIGHT]
Six ‘early’ signs of a stroke that could appear a week before [INFORMER]
“Current research indicates that the first sign of stroke is when the face drops on one side or the person may not be able to smile,” he explained.
“Secondy, the person may not be able to lift one or both arms, and keep them up.”
Additionally, they may start to experience difficulties when speaking, which could lead them to start slurring their words.
Research last year, led by the American Academy of Neurology, suggested low mood and fatigue could precede a stroke by years.
The results, published in the online issue of the journal Neurology, also found that these symptoms persisted after the patient had suffered the stroke.
Scientists said at the time: “Depression is among the most pressing problems in people who have had a stroke and it is so common it is referred to as post-stroke depression.
“But our study found depressive symptoms not only markedly increase after stroke, it found people already had developed some depressive symptoms before the stroke even occurred.”
According to their findings, the scientists warned that symptoms of stroke may start to show up two years before the time of the stroke.
Though these symptoms are seemingly unrelated to stroke, getting them checked by a doctor could reveal an underlying health condition that needs medical attention.
Rado added: “The reason it is important to spot a stroke as early as possible is that treatment, if given quickly, is very effective in mitigating its effects.”
“A recent study that was conducted indicates that […] some signs of a stroke could start to appear up to 10 years before the stroke itself, but in most circumstances, the typical signs that a person is going to experience will appear a few days before.
“It is important to remember that symptoms of a stroke can progress quickly, so people need to act fast if they think that they or someone they know is showing signs.”
Source: Read Full Article
