Answer:

When a person shows suspected signs of stroke, if they have reduced consciousness and a risk of vomiting, they should be placed on their side. This position helps prevent vomit from entering the airway. Immediately after, call for emergency medical assistance to transport the patient to a facility equipped to treat stroke.

Stroke patients may experience sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, facial drooping, and difficulty speaking. In cases of extensive brain damage, patients may have impaired consciousness and a reduced ability to protect their airway. If a patient vomits while lying on their back, there is a significant risk of vomit entering the respiratory tract, leading to choking and breathing difficulties.

Individuals without medical expertise should not attempt to prick fingertips or perform "cao gio" (coining) as these methods have no therapeutic effect on stroke. A stroke occurs when blood vessels supplying the brain become blocked or rupture, causing damage to brain cells. Therefore, administering first aid at home using these techniques cannot restore blood flow or address internal brain hemorrhage.

Stroke patients receive early emergency care to limit the risk of death and complications. *Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital*.

Upon receiving information about a suspected stroke patient, hospitals typically activate a "Code Stroke" emergency protocol. This protocol prioritizes immediate CT or MRI scans and rapid consultation among specialists. This streamlined process helps doctors quickly determine if the patient has an ischemic stroke or a hemorrhagic stroke, as well as the location and extent of the damage. This assessment guides the selection of appropriate treatment methods. Depending on the patient's condition, they may receive thrombolytic medication, thrombectomy intervention, or surgical removal of a hematoma.

If you encounter someone suddenly exhibiting facial drooping, limb weakness, speech difficulty, loss of balance, or double vision – all suspected signs of stroke – your priority should be to call for emergency medical help. Do not wait for symptoms to disappear on their own or apply traditional remedies, as these actions delay treatment and risk losing the opportunity to preserve the patient's neurological function.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Duc

Head of Neurology Department

Center for Neuroscience

Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City