AN article about new guidelines for treating people who have suffered a stroke has raised considerable interest.

Hereford County Hospital is currently reviewing how it can provide an improved service – including speedier scans and injection of clot breaking drugs.

But the bottom line remains that the sooner a stroke is diagnosed and medical aid sought, the better chance for a patient to make a good recovery.

Which begs the question: how do you tell the signs of a stroke?

Often the first symptoms do not make it obvious – it can be a slight stumble or what some people call a “funny turn” and they protest they are fine and carry on.

Yet later ,the consequences can become clear and quite serious, with the failure to recognise the symptoms possibly resulting in brain damage.

One Hereford Times reader, Linda Miles, of Harewood End, sent in a simplistic guide to checking whether a “funny turn’’ or stumble could be the symptoms of a stroke.

Anyone who is concerned should ask the person to smile, to talk and to speak a simple and coherent sentence and to raise both arms.

If they have trouble with any of these tasks, call 999.

Another indicator is to ask the person to stick out their tongue – if it is crooked or goes to one side or the other, it could be the sign of a stroke.

It may well be that a stroke will ultimately be ruled out – but why risk it?