New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Stroke Awareness Month In May

Learning "F.A.S.T." Can Help Identify Common Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 20, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health encourages all New Yorkers to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke in recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month in May. Stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, is always a medical emergency. Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke, acting quickly, and calling 911 immediately can significantly raise a person's chance of survival.

"A stroke can be deadly, or leave an individual with a lifelong disability, which is why I urge all New Yorkers to learn what a stroke may look like so they can act fast and potentially save a life when every second matters," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "The Department is also acutely aware that stroke has had a disproportionate impact on communities that have historically faced barriers to quality health care, and we remain committed to advancing treatment and care to prevent stroke and improve survival rates in underserved communities."

Signs and symptoms of a stroke often occur quickly; however, they can also develop over hours or even days. Signs of a stroke may include:

  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding speech
  • Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause
  • Sudden trouble seeing from one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination

Getting help as quickly as possible when someone is having a stroke is crucial. Remembering a simple acronym can help identify the indications and possibly help save a life. "F.A.S.T" is an easy-to-remember method of recognizing the symptoms of stroke:

F = Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?

A = Arm: Can the person raise both arms? Does one arm drift down? Is their arm weak?

S = Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or confusing?

T = Time: Time is critical. Note the time when stroke symptoms first appear and call 9-1-1 right away. Anyone who may be having a stroke should have an ambulance drive them to the hospital.

If someone is showing the signs and symptoms of stroke, calling 911 immediately saves precious time and improves the likelihood of a positive outcome. Recognition of those indications, however, is not readily known across New York, according to a Department report that includes information about how familiar the public is with common signs that someone is having a stroke.

The 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicates that less than one third of New York adults were able to correctly recognize the common signs and symptoms of stroke and that calling 9-1-1 should be the first action to take in response. Less than half of adults were able to identify a sudden headache without a known cause as a sign of stroke.

Also potentially contributing to differences in awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke are structural factors, such as inequitable access to health information. Findings from the 2021 report highlight the significant disparities in the awareness of stroke indicators among New Yorkers identifying as Black or Hispanic, adults without a personal doctor, and those who completed the BRFSS survey in Spanish.

A Department report released in 2022 looked at adults diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The report found that individuals diagnosed with those conditions experience stroke at significantly higher rates than those without the risk factors. Among adults with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, stroke prevalence is significantly higher among Black non-Hispanic New Yorkers when compared to all other adults combined.

Additionally, the American Heart Association reports that because of systemic inequities, Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke than any other racial group.

The findings illustrate the need to address structural factors contributing to these disparities, including access to health and social care needs critical to the management of stroke risk factors.

Stroke risk factors include high blood pressure or hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Individuals who have these risk factors should speak with a health care provider about ways to reduce their risk of stroke by managing and controlling these health conditions.

The Department also has several programs dedicated to improving prevention, treatment, and community education about stroke:

  • The Stroke Designation Program recognizes the advanced capabilities of hospitals to treat stroke patients in a multi-tiered system including Primary Stroke Centers, Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Centers, and Comprehensive Stroke Centers. A list of New York designated stroke centers can be found here.
  • New York State is also one of 13 states funded by the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program. The State Coverdell Stroke Program, which aims to close gaps in care and achieve improvements in prevention, in-hospital and post-hospital care, is focused on community education. In partnership with the Stroke Designation Program, stroke education materials are available in 13 languages to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of activating 9-1-1.

For more information about stroke, visit the American Stroke Association here.