The acronym FAST is widely used as a guide to recognise stroke symptoms, which affect the face, arms and speech. Some cases, however, present atypically.
The urgency of every stroke case underscores the need for greater awareness of the warning signs.
A 24-year-old survivor named Jojo recently described her onslaught of symptoms in a bid to raise knowledge of the condition on TikTok.
“Here are some of the symptoms I experienced having a stroke as a 24-year-old woman, and I hope this helps someone,” she declared.
The content creator didn't experience classic symptoms
TIKTOK
The first symptoms she noticed were dizziness and a spinning sensation, which can include lightheadedness and unsteadiness.
“I felt like the room was spinning around me,” she said. “My balance was way off.
“I got out of bed and instantly fell to the ground because I just could not stand up.”
Jojo also experienced nausea, which scientists believe may heighten the risk of death in stroke patients.
“I was just throwing up all over the place uncontrollably - it wouldn’t stop. That’s how I realised I was dizzy, because I couldn’t even get to the bathroom to throw up.”
Like many stroke victims, Jojo also experienced what she described as a “severe migraine”.
Her vision equally became impaired - a sign that the stroke was affecting the parts of her brain responsible for visual processing.
“Very blurry vision, I was seeing black - I just could not see properly,” she described. “My eyes were darting all over the place, and I couldn’t track anything.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Acting fast reduces the risk of disability
GETTY
“Most importantly, what concerned me was that I was experiencing all of these symptoms at the same time.”
She wrote in the caption: “Stroke symptoms look different for everyone, and 'BE FAST' is a great starting point, but I wanted to share my experience since mine weren’t the ‘classic’ stroke symptoms.”
The NHS stresses that it is imperative to act FAST when stroke symptoms appear, as this reduces the risk of long-term complications.
“Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives patients quicker access to specialist treatment that can be life-saving and may reduce long-term effects such as disability,” according to Umbrella Medical Group.
