Do you know how to recognise a stroke FAST?

14101/06 Filed in: Health
If you can recognise a stroke, you can save a relative's or a friend's life by calling 111 immediately. It's easy to recognise symptoms of a stroke if you stick to the FAST rule (see below).

A stroke is what happens when of one of the brain's blood vessels gets clogged. The part of the brain that is usually nourished by this blood vessel is not getting enough oxygen to do its job and may get irrevocably damaged, paralysing parts of the body. So, time is of the essence, because every minute counts when it comes to brain damage!

Luckily, it's fairly easy to recognise a stroke by asking the person to "Smile, raise both arms, speak a simple sentence".
Call 111 immediately if a person fails these:

FAST Rule for recognising strokes: F - Face - SMILE (is one side droopy?), A - Arms - RAISE BOTH ARMS (is one side weak?), S - Speech - SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (slurred? Unable to?), T - Time - Lost time could be lost brain, get to hospital FAST!<br /><br />FAST Rule for recognising strokes: F - Face - SMILE (is one side droopy?), A - Arms - RAISE BOTH ARMS (is one side weak?), S - Speech - SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (slurred? Unable to?), T - Time - Lost time could be lost brain, get to hospital FAST!<br />FAST Rule for recognising strokes: F - Face - SMILE (is one side droopy?), A - Arms - RAISE BOTH ARMS (is one side weak?), S - Speech - SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (slurred? Unable to?), T - Time - Lost time could be lost brain, get to hospital FAST!


Now you don't have to run around and ask everyone these questions all the time.
Ask them:
-- after someone has stumbled or fallen for no apparent reason
-- if someone is suddenly disoriented or finds it difficult to speak
-- if a family member finds it suddenly physically difficult go get out of bed in the morning. (Not when they're just tired or hung over, silly!)

It's a really good idea to share this knowledge with your friends and family members. It could save their lives - or yours!

More information about strokes, stroke prevention, and what to do after you or a family member has suffered a stroke can be found on the homepage of The Stroke Foundation of New Zealand.

One piece of information is missing on the Stroke Foundation homepage, though:
Japanese acupuncture can be used both for stroke prevention (some reflex points become reactive about 1-2 years prior to an impending stroke) and for helping with recovery after a stroke.

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