Signs of Stroke in Young Adults

Each year, 795,000 people experience a stroke, and thousands are at risk of having one in the future. Although most people who have strokes are older than 60, up to 10 percent of all strokes occur in those under age 45. This includes infants, high school students, and young adults. No matter the age demographic, you can recognize the sign of a stroke with the universal acronym F.A.S.T. 

Signs and Symptoms   

Recognizing the signs of stroke in young adults is similar to determining if an older adult is experiencing a stroke. The F.A.S.T. test has become the universal identification tool to examine three main signs of stroke: facial/arm weakness and speech disturbance. The F.A.S.T. acronym stands for: 

F: Face drooping – does one side of the face droop, or is it numb. Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven? 

A: Arm weakness – is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms; does one arm drift downward? 

S: Speech difficulty – is speech slurred when the person talks? 

T: Time to call 911 

Source: American Stroke Association 

BE FAST Test  

The BE FAST acronym expands the traditional F.A.S.T. tool to better use with younger people who may not initially present the conventional signs of a stroke. BE FAST stands for: 

B: Balance – a sudden loss of balance or coordination 

E: Eyes – sudden vision loss in one or both eyes and having double vision 

F: Face – any dropping on one side of the face

A: Arm – sudden weakness or drifting in one arm or leg 

S: Speech – slurring or difficulty speaking or understanding words 

T: Time – quickly call 911 if you or anyone else around you experience any of the symptoms