A PENSIONER managed to save his own life when he self-diagnosed a stroke.
Anthony Peters, 69, from Wokingham, suffered the stroke in November 2017, when he noticed a sudden loss of feeling in the left-hand side of his body when he stood up in the middle of the night.
He performed the FAST test, and correctly diagnosed that he was having a stroke.
Mr Peters said: “In that moment, I thought I was having a stroke. I managed to crawl back upstairs and get into bed. Whilst lying in bed I did the FAST test to myself.
“I felt my face to feel for any weakness, and was trying to raise my arm and leg. At this point my wife woke up and asked me what was wrong. I told her that I was having a stroke and she dialled 999 immediately.”
He was taken to hospital, where he received thrombolysis, a clot-busting treatment, and was saved, he is now encouraging others to remember the FAST test in similar situations.
The test is as follows:
FACE: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
ARMS: Can the person raise both arms?
SPEECH: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
TIME to call 999
Suzy Imeson, Stroke Association Support Manager at the Stroke Association said: “Stroke can happen to anyone at any age, at any time, and when it strikes, every second counts.
“We want more people like Anthony to learn the FAST test and share it with their friends and family. Knowing how to spot the warning signs of a stroke could save a life.”
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