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Every second lost during a stroke means irreversible brain damage, nearly two million brain cells die every minute. What makes this even more alarming is that once brain cells die, they cannot regenerate. In fact, permanent damage can begin as early as seven minutes after a clot forms in the brain. “In my clinical practice, I often see how timely action can completely change a patient’s life. One of my patients, a 52-year-old IT professional, was rushed to the hospital within 30 minutes of sudden slurred speech and facial drooping. Because his family recognized the signs early and acted immediately, we could dissolve the clot in time, and he walked out of the hospital in three days with no disability,” says Dr Advait Kulkarni, Consultant Neurologist, HSR Neuro Clinic, Bangalore. Unfortunately, such outcomes are rare in India, where public awareness about stroke remains very low. The FAST protocol is a simple yet life-saving tool: F – Face: Is one side drooping? A – Arm: Is one arm weak or numb? S – Speech: Is speech slurred or strange? T – Time: Time to call emergency services immediately. Acting FAST within the golden hour, the first 60 minutes can determine whether a person recovers fully or faces lifelong paralysis. Treatments like clot-busting drugs and mechanical thrombectomy are effective only when started early, ideally within 4.5 hours. We urgently need a public health movement for stroke awareness through community education, caregiver training, and faster ambulance coordination. Recognizing a stroke on time doesn’t just save a life, it saves a lifetime of dignity.
