Stroke Awareness: These 4 Letters Can Help You Save Lives
Fortunately, there is something we can do to help. Using the acronym "FAST," we can easily remember the warning signs of a stroke. The sooner a person is treated for a stroke, the better the outcome, which is why identifying that a stroke is happening can save lives. Read on to learn more about what FAST means.
Signs of a stroke
General signs of a stroke include:
Numbness in the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of your body
Difficulty speaking or understanding others
Sudden confusion and mental fogginess
Sudden vision issues in one or both eyes
Sudden dizziness, incoordination and trouble walking
Sudden migraine headache
Signs of a stroke tend to look the same in men and women but signs can be less intense in women and often are overlooked. In addition to the signs listed above, women may also feel the following symptoms before stroke:
Fatigue
Headaches
Mind fogginess and memory issues
Nausea and vomiting
Remember FAST to help identify a stroke
This is where the acronym FAST comes in. It's a helpful resource to help recognize if someone is having a stroke and what you should do.
F: Face drooping
One side of the face is drooping and unable to function as normal.
A: Arm weakness
One arm suddenly feels numb or weak and cannot be raised simultaneously with the other.
S: Speech difficulty
Someone is blurring their speech, speaking incoherently or unable to repeat phrases.
T: Time to call 911
If you or someone is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, especially on one side of the body, call 911 immediately. Quick medical care is vital in preventing serious long-term harm or disability.
Note that the acronym was "BEFAST" for balance problems, eyesight problems, face muscle drooping, arm numbness, speech difficulties and time to call for help. However, a 2024 randomized pilot trial found that people had higher retention and ability to recall stroke symptoms, either partially or fully, with FAST.
Possible causes of a stroke
While there are risk factors of stroke that can't be changed, like family history or gender, some are preventable.
Below is a list of possible stroke risk factors that can be managed:
Diabetes
Drug use
Excessive alcohol consumption
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Obesity
Smoking
For more advice on managing heart health, here are nine tips to help lower your risk of heart disease and what to do if someone is experiencing a heart attack.
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