Sept. 8, 2022 – Television news anchor Julie Chin is recovering after having StrokeLive on air, Chin experienced symptoms similar to those described earlier in the month. Chin was an anchor at KJRH in Tulsa OK and was reporting on NASA Artemis I’s launch. She suddenly lost her ability to speak or read words on a teleprompter.
Her colleagues quickly called 911 to rush her to a nearby hospital, where she underwent a series test.
“First I lost partial vision in one eye. My arm and hand went numb a little while later. Then, I knew I was in big trouble when my mouth would not speak the words that were right in front of me on the teleprompter,” she wrote on Facebook the next day.
“My doctors believe I had the beginnings of a stroke on the air,” said Chin, who is now recovering at home.
When a News Anchor becomes the News
This medical emergency is being highlighted by the video of Chin struggling to speak. It shows how quickly and unexpectedly stroke-like symptoms can appear. It’s also a good reminder to anyone who thinks they or someone else might be having a stroke that they need to act fast.
“It was a scary event for her, but I think it’s a good opportunity for us at the American Heart Association to remind people what the signs of a stroke are,” says Mitchell Elkind, MD.
Larry Goldstein MD, chair of neurology, University of Kentucky HealthCare Lexington, concurs.
“Anything that raises awareness is a good thing,” he says. “This event was a good example of someone experiencing speech changes. Although her articulation was good, she had a real word-finding problem.”
The role of the person who witnesses a stroke is crucial. Sometimes the person having the stroke can’t call for help, or the stroke doesn’t let them realize they’re having a problem, says Elkind, the Heart Association’s chief clinical science officer.
“That’s why it’s important for friends, co-workers, or even people on the street to recognize the signs of a stroke.”
Keep an eye out for the signs
Keep these things in mind if you suspect that you have suffered a stroke. B.E.F.A.S.T.It stands to represent Balance, Eyes (loss in vision), Face (drooping), and Arms (one arm drifts down); Speech (slurred; confused); and Time and Terrible headache.
The Heart Association suggests that people think about at least F.A.S.T. because it’s easier to remember, even though balance and Problems with the eyesElkind says that this can happen.
Goldstein claims that the eye problems and balance can help identify 14% more people who have suffered a stroke. But no matter how you remember the signs, it’s important to ask fast, he says.
In Chin’s case, a garbled text she sent her husband after she got off the air was another clue: “I need help. Something is not Run today. My work won’t work is working my help my.” Alarmed, her husband rushed to meet her at the hospital.
Every year, around 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke. CDC reports. More than 600,000. In 2019, more than 150,000 Americans died of strokes, according to the National Stroke Association. 2022 fact sheetFrom the Heart Association. That is one stroke death per 3.5 minutes in the United States.
Goldstein suggests that people make lifestyle changes and other changes to lower their chance of suffering a stroke. Because “once a stroke happens, it’s a catch-up [situation].”
Elkind reminds those who hesitate to seek medical assistance that stroke specialists are available for treatment. However, they must be received as soon after symptoms begin. “‘Don’t ignore it’ would be my recommendation.”
“When it comes to anything medical, if you think you need help, if something is really not right, don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Chin said in an interview on the Today Show on Wednesday.
“I hope this story helps somebody else,” she said.
