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In Medicine, what does FAST Stand for?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

FAST is an acronym for quickly remembering the symptoms of a stroke. It is more frequently used in Australia than in the United States, but a 2007 episode of the medical drama House featured the concept. It’s an excellent acronym to remember because early treatment of stroke is essential to reducing brain damage and mortality associated with stroke.

The acronym is fairly loose, and the letters only correlate to a few symptoms of stroke. These are facial paralysis, arm weakness, and speech difficulties. The “T” is often translated as “time to act fast,” although others interpret it as “test all symptoms.” The first interpretation is used by the Stroke Foundation of Australia, and for most laypeople, it’s probably best to remember the first definition. It is definitely essential to act quickly by contacting emergency services if a stroke is suspected.

FAST is an acronym that loosely identifies the symptoms of a stroke.
FAST is an acronym that loosely identifies the symptoms of a stroke.

Each letter deserves a little further explanation. Facial paralysis is a common symptom of stroke, and asking the person to smile can easily test this. If he cannot smile, or if his mouth appears to droop on one side, this indicates possible stroke. A person experiencing a stroke may also have difficulty swallowing.

The “A" stands for arm weakness. One arm or leg may be paralyzed or more difficult to move. To quickly test for this, the person with suspected stroke can be asked to raise both arms. If the person can only raise one, or if the arms cannot be raised to the same level, a stroke is a possible cause.

A stroke victim may experience weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
A stroke victim may experience weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

“S” is for speech difficulties, since people who have just suffered a stroke may have slurred or incomprehensible speech. A massive stroke can translate quickly to inability to speak. Asking a person a few questions can normally determine whether he has this symptom.

"Time to act fast" means it’s important to seek medical attention immediately, while "test all symptoms" means it’s helpful to be able to tell emergency workers if a stroke is suspected. FAST exams should be performed after 911 is called. Alternately, if two people are with the person having the stroke, one can call emergency services while the other performs the exam.

A sudden loss of feeling that affects the hand and the arm could be a warning sign of an impending stroke.
A sudden loss of feeling that affects the hand and the arm could be a warning sign of an impending stroke.

Additional symptoms of stroke are quite common and are not covered by the acronym. These include dizziness or loss of balance and severe, sudden headache. It’s also important for people to realize that not all strokes will exhibit all symptoms. Presence of even one of these symptoms may indicate stroke, but also may indicate totally unrelated conditions. The goal is to check for common symptoms, so a person can report possible indicators of stroke to medical workers as quickly as possible.

Using illicit drugs can increase an individual's risk of stroke.
Using illicit drugs can increase an individual's risk of stroke.

Another term that's also commonly abbreviated as FAST is "focused assessment with sonography for trauma." This is a type of ultrasound done to test for pools of blood in four areas of the body: the space between the liver and the right kidney, the space around the spleen, the space around the heart, and the open area of the pelvis. It is sometimes extended to include the area around the lungs. This is usually done when a patient is brought in to an emergency room after a traumatic injury.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

JackOfAll

@healthnwell - you are correct in stating that it is intended as a checklist for the general public.

@jerry70 - the COMMONEST cause for the sudden onset of these symptoms is stroke, but no doctor would diagnose stroke on these symptoms alone - there are many conditions that can present in the same way.

anon205869

@Jerry70: Even if the person has all these symptoms together, for you it doesn't really matter what it would indicate, rather focus on the fact that having all those symptoms isn't normal, and you need to call 911 anyway.

visionary

@jerry70 -- as far as I know, a stroke is the most common illness with these symptoms coming on all of a sudden. I think the other illnesses that have similar symptoms usually come on gradually and progress over time.

healthnwell

@jerry70 -- I think the FAST acronym is intended for the general public to think of and use to respond when a loved one is having unexpected symptoms. It's kind of like the ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) checklist that you learn in CPR classes.

jerry70

This is an excellent way to remember some of the symptoms of a stroke, however is it really universally accurate? Does anyone know if these symptoms taken together could be indicative of something other than stroke?

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    • FAST is an acronym that loosely identifies the symptoms of a stroke.
      By: ChantalS
      FAST is an acronym that loosely identifies the symptoms of a stroke.
    • A stroke victim may experience weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
      By: JPC-PROD
      A stroke victim may experience weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
    • A sudden loss of feeling that affects the hand and the arm could be a warning sign of an impending stroke.
      By: Tracy Whiteside
      A sudden loss of feeling that affects the hand and the arm could be a warning sign of an impending stroke.
    • Using illicit drugs can increase an individual's risk of stroke.
      By: aaabbc
      Using illicit drugs can increase an individual's risk of stroke.
    • Individuals who have experienced a stroke may experience loss of muscle control necessary to perform ordinary tasks, such as teeth brushing.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Individuals who have experienced a stroke may experience loss of muscle control necessary to perform ordinary tasks, such as teeth brushing.