Stroke Warning Signs: How to Spot a Stroke Fast with FAST & BE FAST

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke, the most common type) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). Without a steady supply of oxygen, brain cells start to die within minutes.

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide and a leading cause of long-term disability. According to the World Stroke Organization, around one in four adults over 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime, and it can affect younger, active people too, not only the elderly.

FAST was created in the UK in 1998 by stroke doctors and ambulance teams as a quick check anyone can do in seconds:

• Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms – Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down or feel weak or numb?
• Speech – Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is it slurred, strange or hard to understand?
• Time – If you see any of these signs, call for emergency help immediately.

FAST can miss strokes that affect the back of the brain, the area that controls balance and vision. Research published in the journal Stroke showed that adding Balance and Eyes to the checklist reduces the number of strokes that go unrecognised, which is why many hospitals and emergency services now teach BE FAST.

Other sudden symptoms can include a severe headache with no known cause, confusion, or numbness on one side of the body. The key word is sudden.

Regular checks of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol help you understand and lower your stroke risk.

In a typical large-vessel ischemic stroke, an estimated 1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute without treatment. Clot-dissolving medication (thrombolysis) is generally given within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and some patients with a large blocked artery may be eligible for clot removal (thrombectomy) up to 24 hours. Both work best the earlier they are given, and both need a hospital with CT scanning and stroke specialists, so getting to the right hospital quickly matters more than anything else.

• Note the time symptoms started, or when the person was last seen well
• Keep them calm, comfortable and safe; if they are drowsy or vomiting, turn them onto their side
• Do not give food, drinks or medication, including aspirin, as some strokes are caused by bleeding
• Loosen tight clothing and stay with them until help arrives
• Gather their medication list, passport or ID, and travel insurance details for the hospital

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) causes the same signs as a stroke, but they go away, often within minutes. Because the symptoms clear up, many people ignore them. A TIA is a serious warning sign that a full stroke may follow, sometimes within days, so treat it as an emergency and get assessed the same day.

Most strokes are linked to risk factors that can be managed. Globally, metabolic risks such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and excess weight account for the majority of stroke burden.

• High blood pressure, the single biggest risk factor
• Diabetes and high blood sugar
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat)
• Excess weight and physical inactivity
• Heavy alcohol use
• Age, family history, or a previous stroke or TIA

If you’re travelling, keep taking your blood pressure, diabetes or blood-thinning medication on schedule, bring enough supply for your whole trip, and carry a written list of your medications. Long days, heat and holiday drinks make it easy to miss doses.

Our team is available 24/7. If a stroke is suspected, our ambulance service provides fast, medically accompanied transfer to a hospital with stroke facilities. For prevention, our doctors offer blood pressure checks and consultations, our laboratory can test blood sugar and cholesterol, and our on-call doctors can visit your hotel or villa.

Learn more about our Ambulance service, or book a Doctor Consultation.