The Act FAST campaign urges everyone to take immediate action on seeing any stroke symptoms to save lives.
Stroke is a medical emergency and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek urgent help. Early treatment not only saves lives but results in a greater chance of a better recovery, as well as a likely reduction in permanent disability from stroke.
Stroke is a time sensitive condition which means that any hesitancy and delay in getting treatment kills brain cells and has sadly and unnecessarily proven to be fatal in the early phase of the pandemic.
Think and act FAST
The signs of stroke are:
- Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
- Speech – is their speech slurred?
- Time – time to call 999
Prevention
There are lifestyle factors that may significantly increase the risk of having a stroke. They include:
SMOKING
BEING OVERWEIGHT
LACK OF EXERCISE
POOR DIET
EXCEEDING THE RECOMMENDED DAILY alcohol limit
LEADING A HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IS VITAL to help reduce your risk of having a stroke.
For more information on stroke and F.A.S.T. please go to nhs.uk/actfast
