Imagine waking up to a head-splitting pain, only to realize half your body is numb. That’s what happened to Zhang*, a 55-year-old teacher, whose July 2025 morning turned into a life-or-death race against time. His story isn’t just dramatic—it’s a wake-up call for stroke awareness. 🧠⚡
Zhang’s wife, a retired nurse, spotted the red flags: slurred speech, one-sided paralysis. Her quick 911 call saved his life. Doctors diagnosed a hemorrhagic stroke (brain bleed) and stabilized him just in time. “If he’d waited longer, he might’ve died or never walked again,” says Dr. Fang Jie, a neurologist at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University.
Headaches: The Silent Warning Sign 🚨
Did you know headaches can scream “stroke risk”? Data shows:
20% of stroke patients get a headache before the attack
27% experience headaches during an ischemic stroke (caused by clots)
Migraines? They double your stroke risk, says Dr. Fang
FAST = Life-Saving Moves ⏱️
Remember this acronym:
Face drooping? Arm weakness? Speech difficulty? Time to call emergency services!
“Every minute lost means 1.9 million brain cells die. Act FAST—it’s survival,” Dr. Fang stresses.
Zhang now walks again, proving early action works. His advice? “Don’t ignore the signs—even if you think it’s just a bad sleep position.”
