Fit and Well: Stroke Awareness Month

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —The month of May is Stroke Awareness Month, a time to stress the importance of stroke recognition and immediate treatment.

A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. Prompt treatment is the difference between life and death, between full recovery and long-term disability.

The acronym, B.E. F.A.S.T., emphasizes the importance of time and is an easy way to remember the symptoms:

-B stands for balance, a sudden loss of balance or coordination.

-E stands for eyes, a sudden vision change.

-F stands for face, sudden weakness on one side of the face or facial droop.

-A stands for arm, sudden arm, or leg weakness on one side of the body.

-S stands for speech, sudden difficulty speaking, or slurred speech.

-T stands for time, call 911 immediately.

“So with that be FAST acronym, even one of those symptoms, if you see one of those it’s time to suspect stroke and dial 911. Again, stroke treatment is available but extremely time-sensitive after a mere few hours those treatments are no longer effective. So one or more of those signs or symptoms activate 911,” Steph Sawver, Stroke Program Manager, St. Luke’s Magic Valley, Jerome, and Wood River Valley.

One in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime, and it can happen at any age.

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