Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T.
Did you know the FAST acronym was developed in the UK in 1998 by a group of stroke physicians, ambulance personnel, and an emergency department physician? What was once a core part of a training package meant for ambulance staff is now a universal guide and campaign to spot and potentially stop stroke by encouraging everyone to learn the key signs of stroke.
Introduction to F.A.S.T.
Every year, an estimated 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember and know the most common stroke warning signs.
How to Spot Stroke F.A.S.T.
The American Stroke Association invented the F.A.S.T. program to help people identify the signs of a stroke.
F: Face drooping on one side
A: Arm weakness in one arm
S: Slurred speech
T: Time to call emergency responders and rush them to see a neurointervention specialist.
You can Google “stroke doctor near me” or “stroke hospital near me” to find a stroke hospital in Singapore.
How to Stop a Stroke and B.E. F.A.S.T.
Another acronym that is useful in the fast recognition of acute ischemic stroke and simple way to remember is BE FAST.
B: Balance Lost
E: Eyesight changes
F: Face drooping
A: Arm weaknesses
S: Slurred speech
T: Time to call 9-9-5
From F.A.S.T. to F.A.S.T.E.R.
Beaumont Health uses another acronym, which adds to more key symptom indicators. Thinking faster might help save a life.
F: Face (Uneven smile, one side of the face droops or is numb)
A: Arms (One arm drifts down when raising both or is weaker and more numb than the other)
S: Stability (Dizziness, hard time keeping balance, trouble walking, loss of coordination)
T: Talking (Slurred words, unable to speak, hard time being understood or understanding speech)
E: Eyes (Double vision, difficulty seeing in one or both eyes)
R: React: Time to call 9-9-5
What is the Treatment for Stroke?
Remember that every second counts and the faster the stroke is treated, the more likely the patient can recover. The good news is stroke is fully treatable. This is why it is important to spot the warning signs, symptoms, and key indicators of stroke. Depending on the type of stroke, treatment options may include:
- Emergency measures
- Stroke medications
- Minimally invasive stroke treatments
- Catheter embolectomy
- Surgical treatments
- Stroke rehabilitation
Read our “Stroke Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment: A Complete Guide” blog post to stay informed about the types of stroke, symptoms, screening, diagnosis, treatment options, stroke management, and more. Call 9-9-5 or get to the nearest emergency room immediately if you or a loved one are experiencing stroke symptoms. Find more answers to commonly asked brain aneurysm and stroke questions from our patients with Dr. Manish Taneja.
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic's Comprehensive Stroke Treatments in Singapore
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic provides a full spectrum of neurointerventional treatments that seek to deal with stroke-related issues. There are personalized treatment plans for stroke to improve your quality of life. Contact us today to see how we can help you on your stroke journey with our programs including stroke screening, management, and prevention.
Consult a Stroke Specialist in Singapore
Dr. Manish Taneja, is an expert in endovascular and image guided neurointerventional procedures of brain and spine. It's important to find a stroke specialist and doctor you can trust in Singapore. He has special interest in treatment of brain aneurysms, stroke and vascular malformations. Come in for a further evaluation. Arrange an appointment with Dr. Manish Taneja, our stroke specialist.
Stroke Resources
Transient Ischemic Attack: What You Need to Know
Not all people get strokes. However, for those who are well, warning signs of stroke can still happen. You might have heard of Transient Ischemic Stroke (TIA), which can lead to a future possible stroke.
We've Got You Covered for Specialized Stroke Screening, Prevention, and Management
Imagine heart attacks where the blood flow to your heart is blocked. Similarly, a stroke occurs when the blood flow to your brain is interrupted becoming a “brain attack”. When blood supply does not reach a certain part, brain cells begin to die. Different types of stroke include ischemic strokes (blockage of blood vessel due to blood clot) or a mini stroke, a TIA (transient ischemic attack), with no permanent damage yet serious. Stroke also occurs when a blood vessel in the brain pops causing bleeding in the brain.
When a stroke occurs, the symptoms of stroke depend on how blood flow to the brain is affected. Individuals at high risk and even higher risk (family history) often have high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, or another risk factor for stroke, all of which increase the risk of stroke. Disrupted blood flow can even damage the blood vessel in the brain and affect one side of the body. Having a stroke doesn’t mean it has to lead to permanent disabilities. Recognizing the risk factors and early warning signs is essential to reduce the stroke risk, and in some cases, procedures such as carotid endarterectomy may help increase the blood vessel in the brain and restore healthy circulation.
Certain areas of the brain can be affected by stroke and some symptoms of a stroke including difficulty in speaking. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood sugar levels can increase the risk of stroke whereas an active lifestyle or controlling high cholesterol reduces the risk. How well do you know stroke? Find tips to prevent and manage stroke, the differences in stroke screening tests, and the newer technology and treatments available. Come in for an easy consultation and further evaluation to work closely with our stroke specialist in Singapore at the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic.
Supreme Vascular and Interventional Stroke Programs
Brain Aneurysm Resources
Discover brain aneurysm resources that go beyond the basics designed for patients. Understand the meaning of a brain aneurysm condition, the causes, symptoms, signs, and more. Connect with your brain health.
Put Brain Aneurysm on Your Health Radar
Did you experience the worst headache of your life? Could it be a brain aneurysm that ruptures, which means bleeding in the brain? Thoughts could be racing through your mind. Then what is the difference between unruptured (a weak or thin spot on an artery in the brain that balloons) or ruptured brain aneurysm? An unruptured brain aneurysm may cause subtle warning signs, such as pain or numbness on one side of the face, while symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm can include intense headache, loss of consciousness, and the leakage of blood into the cerebrospinal fluid when an aneurysm ruptures. If you’re wondering, then the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic in Singapore is here to help. It’s important to look out for the tell-tale brain aneurysm symptoms, signs, causes, and risk factors.
At our specialized brain aneurysm clinic in Singapore, we help patients understand how conditions such as an arteriovenous malformation, high blood pressure, and weaknesses in the artery wall of a blood vessel or vessel in the brain can increase the risk of a brain aneurysm. Certain risk factors, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD), can further weaken blood vessels and raise the likelihood of rupture.
Dr. Manish Taneja has been performing brain aneurysm treatments offering personalized treatment options since 1995 from surgical clipping where the aneurysm is completely clipped to stop blood flowing into the weakened area, which prevents blood from re-entering the aneurysm sac and reduces the risk of future bleeding to latest minimally invasive procedures. Each patient is unique as is the size and location of the aneurysm. Your brain has different conditions to treat the aneurysm and artery vessel walls of a blood vessel in the brain. This calls for personalised brain aneurysm treatment depending on your symptoms, family, history, medication, and more. A simple CT scan could be just what the doctor ordered and the first step in early detection and prevention of a brain aneurysm. Come in for an easy consultation with our brain aneurysm specialist in Singapore to be on your health radar.
Other Health Conditions
The Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic is your “go-to” facility for various neurological conditions and treatments. To arrange an appointment with Dr. Manish Taneja, our neurointervention specialist, contact us. You can also call us at (+65) 6904 8084 for a consultation.