Time is critical in a stroke as about 1.9 million brain cells die every minute before hospitalisation.
That’s something Bill Gasiamis knows all too well, having suffered three strokes before the age of 40.
After years of rehabilitation, the now-46-year-old is back at work, running a painting and property maintenance business.
But some of that time spent learning to walk again could have been reduced if Mr Gasiamis got to hospital quicker the first time.
Bill Gasiamis suffered three strokes before the age of 40 Source: Supplied
“I woke up one morning with a numb toe and in a week that numbness in my toe spread to my entire left side… it didn’t stop me from doing anything, it just felt weird," he said.
“I ignored it pretty much for seven days.
“Because of my waiting and the amount of blood that did end up entering my brain, that diagnosis was delayed for two years, because it [the MRI machine] couldn't see my blood vessels and the only other way to see them was to operate and they wanted to avoid that."
A stroke is the medical term for when blood cannot get to the brain due to a blocked or burst artery, and brain cells die as a result due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
By the time Bill Gasiamis got to hospital the MRI machine couldn't see the faulty blood vessel through the blood in his brain. Source: Supplied
There are three early signs that can be recognised with the acronym FAST.
“Face - check their face, has their mouth drooped; arms - can they lift both arms; speech - is their speech slurred or do they understand you; and if any one of those signs is visible then time is critical - it is time to call triple zero immediately,” said the Stroke Foundation's John De Rango.
But according to a Stroke Foundation survey, one in three households who speak a language other than English haven't been taught these symptoms.
After three strokes, surgery and eight years of rehabilitation Bill Gasiamis is back at work and doing the things he loves. Source: Supplied
That's problematic because recognising these signs and getting to a hospital quickly can reduce the severity of a stroke.
“What we do know is the quicker a stroke is treated the better the outcome,” said Mr De Rango.
Stroke Foundation Executive Director Marketing John De Rango Source: Supplied
“When a stroke strikes the brain, it kills up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute, but treatment can stop this damage.”
This is why the Stroke Foundation and the Australian Government have launched an in-language campaign, with health information in eight languages.
“The eight that we have chosen we identified as the most vulnerable to stroke and in need of in-language information,” said Mr De Rango.
Mr Gasiamis, the son of Greek immigrants, wishes this information was available sooner.
“My mum and dad, they don't comprehend English as well as they do Greek, so having the tools in Greek would make it a lot easier for them to have a better understanding of what I was going through at the time," he said.
“It is something that should have been around a long, long time ago, but I am glad it is around now.”
The in-language information is available online, on the Stroke Foundation's website, and will also be shared via social media and SBS Radio.
