Stroke is a life-threatening medical condition. It is life-threatening because it can hit without warning, which is much more catastrophic. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. This interruption deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrition, possibly resulting in permanent injury or death.
True, a stroke can strike unexpectedly, but there are typically warning signs. That’s where F.A.S.T. comes in. F.A.S.T. is more than just an acronym; it is a tool that can help people identify stroke warning signs, possibly saving their lives. In this post, we’ll look at the F.A.S.T. tool for identifying stroke symptoms.
What is F.A.S.T?
F.A.S.T stands for face, arm, speech and time to call for an emergency. Let’s explore each of these letters:
Face (drooping)
Face drooping is a sign of stroke itself.
Check
If you want to observe if someone has a stroke, ask them to smile. When they smile, look for signs that one side of their face droops or is uneven in comparison to the other. One-sided facial drooping indicates that one side of the face is not receiving proper nerve signals.
Cause
This can be due to blockages or bleeding in the brain.
Arm (weakness)
Another symptom of stroke is weakness or the feeling of numbness in one arm.
Check
Ask the person to raise both arms straight out in front of them and maintain that stance. Watch to see which arm becomes visibly weaker and falls lower; this could be a symptom of a stroke. With numbness or weakness of the arm, the person would struggle to lift objects or hold the arm straight.
Cause
This weakness or numbness sensation is as a result of the brain being unable to control the movement of muscles because of the interruption of blood flow.
Speech (difficulty)
When a person has a stroke, they have slurred speech or difficulty forming words.
Check
Ask the person to say a simple sentence or repeat a phrase you just said. Listen carefully to what the person says in order to identify any speech flaws such as mumbling, slurring, or difficulty in word articulation.
Cause
This happens because the part of the brain responsible for language and communication is affected by strokes.
Time to call for emergency
This acronym simply shows how important it is to act quickly when a stroke is suspected. As usual, time is of the essence; the sooner these symptoms are identified in a patient, the more successful the course of treatment will be. There’s no need to wait until a stroke leaves half of the patient’s body paralyzed before seeking medical assistance.
Conclusion
Every minute matters when it comes to stroke treatment. Although stroke can happen abruptly, there are warning signs that should be looked out for. The acronym F.A.S.T.—which stands for face, arm, speech, and time for emergency—comes into play in this situation. With the aid of this tool, you can identify whether someone has had a stroke, which can also improve their chances of recovery with immediate medical care.
