Recognising the signs and symptoms of a stroke is crucial as this health issue can be life-threatening.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of your brain is cut off, affecting functions such as speech or movement. According to NHS guidelines, recovery from a stroke can sometimes be a lengthy process.
Symptoms that may suddenly appear include weakness in the face or arm, speech difficulties, blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes, confusion, and memory loss.
To mark World Stroke Day on Tuesday (October 29), TikTok user Dr Joe, who boasts two million followers, shared four steps to identify the signs of a stroke.
He explained the FAST acronym, which stands for Face Dropping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, and Time To Call Emergency Services.
In his post, he said: “This tool helps in quickly identifying a potential stroke, enabling prompt medical intervention, which is vital for reducing the severity of a stroke and improving recovery chances.”
In the accompanying video, he demonstrated: “This gentleman is going to have a stroke live on video, as you can see he’s doing his normal workout routine without difficulty.
“But the first thing you notice is his face is asymmetry as both sides look differently from each other. Then you notice he’s having difficulty picking up his boxing glove with his right arm, he’s got right arm weakness.
“The FAST acronym should help you remember obvious stroke symptoms, facial asymmetry, arm weakness, speech problems and time to call 911.”
In the compelling conclusion of the video, the man displayed significant recovery, cheerily giving a thumbs up from his hospital bed. The educational post spiked in popularity, amassing 228,000 likes and sparking robust dialogue in the comments section.
A particular comment struck a chord: “Thanks for posting. I was asleep in bed when my first stroke happened. When I woke up, I couldn’t speak, walk or pick anything up. I was 50 that day.”
While another observer pointed out: “Scary because he looks very fit.”
Echoing the sentiment, another user remarked: “Bro looks so healthy though,” while another shared personal triumph over adversity: “Stroke survivor at 35. Mine was speech, right arm weakness and numbness.”
The diverse impacts of a stroke were highlighted, as for some individuals, the road to recovery may span days or weeks, with minimal life disruption.
Conversely, others could undergo months or years of rehabilitation, necessitating significant lifestyle adaptations ranging from home modifications for mobility, to potential lengthy work absences or permanent career cessation.