World Stroke Day: Know the FAST signs and act within the golden hours

World Stroke Day is observed across the world on October 29 every year. The aim is to make people aware of stroke, or paralysis of the brain, and to explain why timely treatment matters. When the blood supply to a part of the brain stops suddenly, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts, cells in that part stop getting oxygen. Within minutes, thousands of brain cells begin to die. It is a very serious, life-threatening emergency, but with the right tests and treatment at the right time, the patient's life can be saved and permanent disability can be avoided.

This year's campaign of the World Stroke Organization (WSO) puts special emphasis on "Every Minute Counts" and "#ActFAST". The sooner treatment begins after a stroke, the less the damage to the brain. For this reason, health organisations, large hospitals and doctors hold programmes on the day to teach people to recognise early symptoms of stroke and appeal to them to act at once without panic.

According to doctors, stroke symptoms appear suddenly and are clearly visible on one side of the body. Everyone needs to understand the globally accepted FAST formula to identify them. F stands for Face: ask the person to smile. If the face or lips droop or turn crooked to one side while smiling, it is a clear sign of stroke. A stands for Arms: ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm feels sharply weak or begins to drop on its own, it is a sign that the brain's functioning is affected.

S stands for Speech: ask the person to say a simple sentence. If the speech is slurred, the words do not come out clearly or it is hard to find words, attention is needed immediately. T stands for Time: if any of these symptoms appear, do not delay at all and contact the 108 emergency ambulance service or the nearest stroke-ready hospital at once. Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, blurred vision in one or both eyes and a severe headache without any reason can also be important early signs of stroke.

The first four and a half hours after a stroke are called the "golden hour". If the patient reaches a hospital with a CT scan and the injection that dissolves blood clots in the brain (thrombolysis) during this time, the chances of full recovery rise considerably. People often dismiss stroke symptoms as minor tiredness, gas or vitamin deficiency, and lose time on home remedies or massage. Meanwhile, millions of brain cells are dying every minute. It is therefore important to remember "Time is Brain". The patient should not be given food, water or medicines such as aspirin without a doctor's advice, because some strokes are caused by bleeding in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke).

According to experts, in most cases stroke can be prevented through the right lifestyle and vigilance. They say five habits in daily life cut the risk considerably. First, control high blood pressure: it is the biggest enemy of the brain, so check blood pressure regularly and take medicines on a doctor's advice. Second, a balanced diet and weight control: keep salt and oily food low, and include fresh vegetables, fruit and fibre-rich food.

Third, regular exercise: brisk walking for at least 30 minutes a day, yoga or light exercise keeps blood flowing well. Fourth, staying away from smoking and alcohol: cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol harden the blood vessels and raise the risk of clots. Fifth, watching diabetes and cholesterol: when blood sugar and cholesterol are under control, the brain's blood vessels stay healthy. The main message of World Stroke Day is to stay active about one's health, manage stress well and seek medical help without even a minute's delay at the first sign of stroke.