Provided by Noelia Gutierrez
Noelia Gutierrez (right) with her husband Cristian Lopez and their daughters, ages 15, 8, and 6.
CNN
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One night in March 2017, Noelia Gutierrez was having dinner with her mother at home when she suddenly felt a severe headache. Then her body started shaking uncontrollably.
Guiterres, a nurse who gave birth to a healthy baby girl eight days ago, said she was unable to move her legs or arms.
“I knew my body was telling me something was wrong,” Gutierrez said. “I thought maybe you were having an allergic reaction.”
Gutierrez’s panicked mother, speaking mostly Spanish, picked him up and placed him on the couch. Gutierrez was able to dial 911 on his cell phone, but he could barely speak and only remembers repeating the word “help” to the operator in slurred speech.
She reportedly lost consciousness shortly after. A few days later, she woke up in the hospital and learned unbelievable news. When she was 29 years old, Gutierrez experienced a stroke.
“My ignorance was, ‘I don’t fit this criteria.’ This usually happens to older people,” Gutierrez said.
But what Gutierrez didn’t know at the time was that, according to the American Heart Association, Hispanic adults in the U.S., regardless of age, are suffering from cancer due in part to uncontrolled risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. , the risk of stroke was high. .The association also points out that access to healthcare is limited. among Hispanic people An additional risk factor is low health literacy.
Gutierrez said the cause of the stroke is unknown. But like many Hispanics, she didn’t know the red flags.
“There’s very little education in my area,” Gutierrez said. “We don’t talk about those things much.”
But a new acronym aimed at Spanish speakers hopes to break down the language barrier and teach people the warning signs of a stroke in their native language.
On September 14, the American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association) Launch of Juntos Contra el Derrame Cerebrala campaign to raise awareness of the Spanish acronym “R.Á.PIDO” to recognize the signs of stroke
This acronym includes the Spanish words rostro caído (drooping of the face), alteración del equilibrio (loss of balance), perdida de fuerza en el brazo (arm weakness), impedimento visual repentino (sudden visual impairment), and dificultad. para hablar (slurred speech) is used. obtén ayuda, llama al 911 (ask for help, call 911). The campaign is being promoted through public service announcements featuring Gutierrez and his 60-second Spanish jingle.
R.Á.PIDO means “fast” in English and reflects the English acronym FAST for Stroke Alert. FAST stands for facial droop, arm weakness, difficulty speaking, and time to call 911.
According to a survey conducted by the American Stroke Association, only 39% of Hispanics are familiar with FAST, and only 42% can name two stroke warning signs without help. %was.
Dr. Jose Villar, a volunteer specialist with the American Stroke Association and professor and professor of neurology at Loyola University Chicago’s Stretch School of Medicine, says “cultural relevance” is important when educating Hispanics about health. He said there is.
“R.Á.PIDO” is an acronym that most Hispanic adults can easily remember, Villar said.
A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Biller said a lack of symptom recognition can lead to delays in calling 911 and seeking medical attention.
“Every second counts,” Biller said. “A well-informed person will rush to emergency services sooner.”
Biller said he also wants to use the campaign to raise awareness of stroke prevention measures. He encourages Hispanics to see a doctor if they have concerns about high blood pressure or irregular heartbeats, quit smoking, limit alcohol and get plenty of rest.
“Prevention is the key,” Biller said.
Meanwhile, Gutierrez said that since her stroke, she often has trouble multitasking, but other than that she is living a normal life, working as a nurse and raising her three daughters.
She said she hopes this campaign and sharing her experience will encourage more. Hispanics need to take charge of their own health. R.Á.PIDO is free and easy to understand, Gutierrez said.
“You can practice at home, share it with your family, and get everyone involved educationally,” Gutierrez said.
she had a message Hispanics: “Listen to your body. This helps us provide for our families. This is a tool we use at work. Ask questions about your medical history, Don’t think, ‘That won’t happen to me.’