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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Launches JOURNAVX, First Non-Opioid Acute Pain Treatment
We recently compiled a list of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated stands second on our list and has recently launched the first non opioid acute pain treatment. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX), a global biotech firm based in Boston, is known for developing innovative treatments for serious diseases like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and beta thalassemia. The company is recognized for its strong pipeline targeting unmet medical needs. In July 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) launched JOURNAVX (suzetrigine), a first-in-class, non-opioid treatment for moderate-to-severe acute pain. JOURNAVX, an oral NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor, was named a 2025 Breakthroughs Innovation Celebration winner by Premier, Inc. It represents the first new class of pain medicine in decades and offers a safer alternative to opioids by directly targeting pain pathways without addiction risks. This launch marks a major advancement in pain management, aligning with public health efforts to reduce opioid use. JOURNAVX is especially relevant for acute pain scenarios such as post-surgical recovery and injury care. A closeup of pills in a pharmacy, representing the high quality medications of the company. Beyond acute pain, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:VRTX) continues to expand its reach. Its next-gen cystic fibrosis therapy, ALYFTREK, received approval from the European Commission in July 2025, strengthening its global leadership in this area. The company is also advancing gene-editing therapies like CASGEVY for sickle cell and beta thalassemia, and is developing treatments for kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, and rare genetic disorders. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Elevance Health, Inc. (ELV) Downgrades 2025 Earnings Amid Rising Medical Costs
We recently compiled a list of Elevance Health, Inc. stands third on our list among the most undervalued healthcare stocks. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is a major U.S. healthcare company, known for its insurance brands Anthem and WellPoint, and its growing Carelon health services arm. It serves around 45.6 million medical plan members and is recognized for integrating technology and value-based care to improve healthcare delivery. The company is facing increased healthcare utilization and rising medical costs, especially in the ACA and Medicaid segments. This has led to a downgrade in full-year 2025 earnings. A 'market-wide morbidity shift' is evident, with new ACA enrollees using emergency services at nearly double the rate of commercial members, and Medicaid patients showing higher acuity due to redeterminations. Amid these challenges, some investors see Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) as one of the most undervalued stocks in the healthcare sector, given its long-term positioning and strategic adjustments. The company expects a surge in elective procedures by Q4 2025 as members act ahead of expiring tax credits in 2026 that could raise their out-of-pocket costs. To address these pressures, the business is ramping up AI-driven tools for risk detection, care coordination, and operational efficiency. It's also expanding value-based care contracts, particularly in behavioral health and oncology, with over one-third of benefit expenses tied to risk-sharing models. The company is adjusting pricing strategies for ACA plans and advocating for Medicaid access amid potential regulatory changes. A healthcare professional discussing a treatment plan with a patient in an outpatient clinic. Though total membership fell by 212,000 in Q2 due to Medicaid attrition, the Medicare Advantage segment continues to grow. Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is prioritizing long-term financial stability over aggressive member growth as it navigates rising costs, shifting regulations, and post-pandemic care patterns. While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
33 minutes ago
- CNN
WSJ: Kennedy expected to dismiss expert panel on preventive care
Federal agencies WellnessFacebookTweetLink Follow US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to remove the expert advisers who make up a federal panel on preventive health care, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The future of the US Preventive Services Task Force has been in doubt since HHS called off this month's meeting of the nonpolitical advisory group. 'No final decision has been made on how the USPSTF can better support HHS' mandate to Make America Healthy Again,' HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told CNN on Friday. The 16-member task force was established in 1984 and provides recommendations about preventive services, such as screenings for cancer and various disorders and counseling, that help make Americans aware of illnesses and conditions earlier, when they can be easier and less expensive to treat. The Affordable Care Act mandates that those services are provided without charge to patients. Kennedy's control over the task force was recently solidified by the US Supreme Court. Last month, in a case challenging a popular provision of the Affordable Care Act, the justices upheld the constitutionality of the task force, which recommends preventive health care services that insurers must cover at no cost. Both the Biden and Trump administrations argued that the task force was properly set up — and therefore, its recommendations should be upheld — because the Health and Human Services secretary was able to name and fire its members. Since taking over at HHS, Kennedy has pushed to reshape the health agencies and expunge them of what he has called longtime health-care industry influence on policies. Last month, he dismissed the 17-member vaccine advisory committee for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and, two days later, named eight new picks. Several of the new members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have questioned vaccine safety; two have testified in court against vaccine manufacturers.
