World Stroke Day (October 29th 2018)

Act Fast on the Signs of F.A.S.T

Every year we insist citizens around the world to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of stroke and help the affected person receive treatment as early as possible. Still, stroke remains as one of the leading causes of death globally. Beyond the tragedy of death, the most ironic part is the feeling of loneliness that sets in most of the stroke-affected persons post-stroke. For those who feel isolated-there are 80 million people who live in a similar state of mind as yours and 50 million survivors who have learnt to lead lives with some form of lifelong disability.
The bitter truth remains unchanged that life after stroke doesn’t remain the same as before. The impact intensity and nature differ from person to person, but one thing remains unchanged-your ability to remain resilient and strong, bounce back from the disaster and make your life as meaningful as possible. The effect of stroke entirely depends on the how fast you react on the F.A.S.T warning signs.
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F.A.S.T Warning Signs
Stroke is a condition that happens when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and other important nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. The parts of the brain that are deprived of oxygen and blood start dying and physicians predict the impact of a stroke depending on the extent and locality of the brain cell damage. Leaving a stroke-affected person unattended every minute after stroke destroys millions of brain cells. Learn the cardinal symptoms of stroke with the help of F.A.S.T and act fast to avoid as much damage as possible to the body:

F-Face drooping. Can you notice drooping or numbness on one side of the person’s face?
A-Arm weakness. Ask the person to lift both arms. Can you notice either of the hands drooping down or seeming weak/numb?
S-Speech difficulty. Try conversing with the person. Is his/her speech slurred, difficult to understand or the person finds it hard to converse?
T-Time to call emergency. If you notice or doubt any of the above signs, call emergency and take the person to the hospital immediately. Don’t drive by yourself as an ambulance has the facility to provide treatment on the way to the hospital and this remains of utmost help.

Anyone is at Risk
Stroke affects anyone of any age although your age, sex, ethnicity and lifestyle are risk-promoting factors of stroke. Anyone who smokes, drinks, stays inactive or has high cholesterol, BP and sugar are always at a higher risk of being affected by the condition. One can always minimize these risks by staying healthy, eating nutritious foods, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly and limiting smoking/drinking. Get in touch with registered dietitian nutritionist at www.firsteatright.com to lead a healthy life, change your lifestyle for the better and promote nutritious eating habits that last a lifetime.