World Stroke Day: Understanding Golden Hour and its importance

World Stroke Day is observed on October 29 and raises public awareness concerning the prevention, treatment, and care of stroke. This global campaign draws attention to the signs of a stroke by remembering the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call emergency services. Stroke is the cause of death and disability worldwide, but many strokes are preventable through lifestyle and early medical intervention. World Stroke Day is that day when attention is drawn to how a stroke would affect the individual and his or her family, so encourage healthy habits, knowledge of risk factors, and support for recovery and rehabilitation.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. Stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial for minimizing brain damage, disability, and potentially life-threatening complications.

The Golden Hour refers to the first 60 minutes after stroke symptoms begin. Patients who present to the hospital within the first 60 minutes after the onset of stroke symptoms have the greatest opportunity to benefit from thrombolytic (Clot buster infusion) therapy. Thrombolysis involves infusion of a clot busting medication like tPA within a narrow window period of 4.5 hours. In the typical ischemic stroke, for each minute that reperfusion is delayed, 20 lakh nerve cells die.

Hence, rapid medical intervention can significantly improve outcomes by restoring blood flow and reducing brain damage. This results in reduced risk of severe disability and increased chances of early recovery.

A swift response involves recognizing stroke symptoms quickly and seeking immediate medical attention.


BE FAST is an useful acronym to identify stroke symptoms quickly. In BE FAST each letter stands for a stroke symptom.

• B stands for - Balance
• E stands for - Eye symptoms
• F stands for - Face drooping
• A stands for - Arm weakness
• S stands for - Speech difficulties
• T stands for - Time to call emergency services.

By acting quickly during the Golden Hour and ensuring a Swift Response, the chances of better recovery and reduced long term complications from a stroke are significantly increased.

Author: Dr Balasubramaniam, Senior consultant neurologist at Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai