An expert in stroke rehabilitation has visited Bermuda to give advice on how to deal with the condition.

Joel Stein, chief medical officer at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, pointed to the acronym FAST, which highlights the most obvious symptoms of stroke, and the necessary action for someone who spots them.

FAST stands for Face (facial asymmetry), Arm (weakness), Speech (slurred or garbled) and Telephone (get help).

"People have got to be very alert to the symptoms of stroke," said Dr. Stein.

"It's more likely to occur with older people, but it can occur at any age. People in their 40s and 50s, I don't call old. We see patients in their 20s."

Dr. Stein, who gave a talk to about 60 health and social professionals at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said a fair number of Bermudian patients travel to Spaulding for rehabilitation.

Bermuda currently has a diabetes rate of 13 percent, double that of the US, which is a high-risk factor for stroke.

Dr. Stein said Bermuda needs to find a way to safely deliver a new clot-busting drug currently available in the US.

He said the best way of preventing stroke was to stop smoking and to monitor blood pressure.

"People walk around and they feel fine, but they could have high blood pressure," he said. "Over a period of years it's a substantial risk factor."

But he said stroke did not have to be "the end of the road".

"Many people can have substantial recovery," he said. "US footballer Tedy Bruschi had a stroke, received care from our staff and is back playing football."