A stroke is a dangerous, fatal accident that can happen to anyone at any time. Experiencing a stroke might sound scary, but what’s more paralyzing is not knowing what to do when a person near you gets a stroke. So to make this particular notion of identifying and reporting a stroke as it happens, expert neurologists came up with an acronym that has made first responding for a stroke a much, much easier process.
FAST
The acronym FAST has been in use since it was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 1998 and has been promoted by various respected organizations like the American Heart Association and the National Stroke Association.
The full form of the FAST acronym is as follows:
● F- F stands for Face. Droopiness in the face is the easiest way to determine whether a person is experiencing a stroke or not. A stroke generally causes facial features to droop on one side, so if you think a person is experiencing a stroke, ask them to do simple facial things like smile or frown. This will make the droopiness more apparent and hence it will become easier to identify the stroke.
● A- A stands for Arms. A stroke can affect a person’s either left or right arm. This is in the form of numbness or weakness felt in one arm more than the other. Ask a potential stroke victim to raise his hands in the air for 10 seconds to determine whether one arm feels weaker than the other.
● S- S stands for Stability. A brain stroke can cause the parts of the brain that maintain balance to function improperly. If a person is not able to stand on his/her own and is feeling dizzy, he/she might be suffering from a stroke. Loss in coordination, having trouble in walking properly or walking at all, and difficulty in maintaining balance are all symptoms that the person is possibly suffering from a stroke.
● T- T stands for Talking. If a person is having difficulty talking simple things, there is a very high chance that that person is having a stroke. During a stroke, the victim can have slurred speech, inability to respond to simple questions, and spewing nonsensical words. A good practice would be to make the victim repeat simple sentences like “ The sky is blue” or “Water is wet”.
The FAST acronym has helped people around the world to identify a person who is suffering from a stroke, but some doctors have suggested that FAST only helps in identifying a victim of a stroke. It doesn’t dictate how to proceed after a member of the general public suddenly comes upon a person with slurred speech and identifies through FAST that the person is suffering from a stroke. It also misses out on visual impairment, a major indication of suffering from a stroke.
That’s why nowadays an added version of the acronym FAST is being popularized. FASTER is a better acronym that instructs people on how to identify a person who is having a stroke and the subsequent actions that must follow to ensure the victim’s safety.
The E stands for Eyes, meaning that a person having a brain stroke can suffer from visual impairment as well. There can be complete visual loss in either or both eyes, and there can also be partial or double vision impairment.
The R stands for React, which acts as a reminder for you to react consciously and call an emergency helpline. Call an ambulance even if the symptoms have gone away and try to take note of when the symptoms began. A proper reaction is essential in saving the life of a person who is suffering from a stroke.
Therefore the updated acronym is:
F- Face
A-Arms
S- Stability
T- Talking
E- Eyes
R- React
FASTER is a more suitable acronym than FAST as it has a call to action which the latter lacks. It also encourages you to act FASTER if a person is having a stroke, as a quick response goes a long way in helping a stroke victim.
Many stroke treatments meant to save a person’s life are dependent on time, so the FASTER you act the FASTER will the person get saved.
About Dr. Shailesh Jain
Dr. Shailesh Jain is a former AIIMS top Neurosurgeon and is the best doctor for brain stroke in Pitampura, Delhi, now working in Max super specialist hospital, Shalimar Bagh. He is an MBBS holder who has a passion for Neurology and public service. His acute diagnosis and direct advice has landed him several loyal patients and is regarded by them as the Top Neurosurgeon in Pitampura, Delhi. It is because of his excellent neurology skills that he resides in India’s best hospital, AIIMS.
Neurology’s biggest enemy is the brain stroke. A brain stroke kills 5 million people every year and leaves another 5 million people disabled. Adequate awareness about strokes must be raised and people should know the emergency procedure to be followed when a person near them suffers a stroke. Acronyms like FAST and FASTER can help save many of those 5 million lives that are wasted due to ignorance by onlookers. Dr. Shailesh Jain wants to raise that awareness among the people of India so that we don’t add a brain stroke to the already abundant diseases that are seemingly roaming around our country undaunted.
He is also the Best doctor for back pain in Pitampura, Delhi. The Central Nervous System (CNS) which comprises the spinal cord, nerves, and the brain is at high risk if even one component is damaged. Getting a regular check-up is a healthy practice as it significantly reduces your chances of having a stroke among other things. So book an appointment with the Best neurologist in Pitampura, Delhi, Dr. Shailesh Jain, as a stroke could occur to you at any point without giving you any precedence. A brain stroke is one of the worst experiences a human could have, and its chances of occurring can be severely reduced by having regular checkups with your doctor, eating healthy, and having a sustainable lifestyle.
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