A stroke ranks among the most severe medical conditions, with significant impacts on health and quality of life. Timely recognition of stroke symptoms and immediate transfer to a hospital can make all the difference between full recovery and permanent damage. In English-speaking countries, the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) campaign has been adapted into Greek as H.O.P.A. (Hand, Speech, Face, Ambulance). This simple rule helps identify key symptoms quickly:
– Hand: Sudden weakness in one hand or leg.
– Speech: Difficulty articulating or unusual speech patterns.
– Face: Asymmetric smile or drooping mouth.
– Ambulance: Immediate call for medical assistance.
Additional less common symptoms may include sudden changes in vision, double vision, an intense headache, or dizziness with impaired balance. Time is critical in stroke treatment; studies show that two million neurons are lost per minute without intervention. The sooner blood flow is restored, the better the prognosis. Current treatments include intravenous thrombolysis, which involves administering drugs to dissolve the clot and restore blood flow within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and mechanical thrombectomy, where a thin catheter removes the clot via the femoral artery up to 6 hours post-stroke, extendable to 24 hours in specialized centers equipped with advanced imaging technologies.