A stroke can strike without warning, leaving patients facing severe medical emergencies if symptoms go untreated.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said when symptoms appear, immediate medical care is critical to avoid death, permanent disability, or loss of independence.

He said residents should remember the acronym FAST to identify warning signs:

• face drooping
• arm weakness
• speech difficulty
• time to seek emergency medical assistance

Other warning signs include sudden weakness and numbness on one side of the body, confusion, eyesight difficulty, loss of balance, walking issues, an intense headache and reduced consciousness.

He said the department joined the World Stroke Day campaign under the theme ‘every minute counts’, emphasising the urgency of seeking immediate medical intervention.

Mabona defined a stroke as a blood supply interruption in the brain, due to a blood vessel block or rupture.

“Without adequate blood and oxygen, brain cells begin to sustain damage. The World Stroke Organisation estimates that approximately 1.9 million brain cells can be lost every minute during a stroke, making early recognition and urgent medical attention critical,” he said.

Department data from the Provincial Rehabilitation Services unit recorded 32 444 new stroke cases and 105 441 follow-up visits between 2019 and 2025.

“Stroke can affect movement, balance, speech, swallowing, memory and the ability to perform everyday activities, leaving survivors requiring ongoing rehabilitation and support,” he said.

Emergency care should be sought even if temporary symptoms subside.

He also noted that if warning signs disappear, urgent medical care is still required, and emergency services can be contacted on 112 from a cellphone or on 10177.

“High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for stroke and often has no obvious symptoms. Other risk factors include diabetes, high cholesterol, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, obesity, physical inactivity, diets high in salt and unhealthy fats, certain heart conditions, increasing age and family history. We encourage people to check their blood pressure regularly, take prescribed medication consistently, attend follow-up appointments, maintain a balanced diet, remain physically active, reduce salt intake and seek medical care to manage diabetes, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular conditions.

“Stroke symptoms must be taken seriously, and people must remember it can happen to anyone, anywhere. Recognising the warning signs and raising the alarm immediately can make a life-saving difference,” he concluded.