Stroke can happen when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bleeds. Rapid recognition matters because some treatments are time-sensitive.
Remember FAST
- F — Face: Ask the person to smile. Is one side drooping?
- A — Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down or feel weak?
- S — Speech: Is speech slurred, confused or difficult to understand?
- T — Time: If any of these signs are present, seek emergency medical help immediately.
Other possible stroke symptoms
Sudden loss of balance, severe dizziness, vision loss, numbness on one side, confusion or an unusually severe headache can also occur.
Do not wait for symptoms to settle
Stroke symptoms may sometimes improve temporarily, but that does not make them safe to ignore. A transient episode can still require urgent assessment.
Reducing future stroke risk
Depending on the individual, prevention may involve controlling blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, avoiding tobacco, taking prescribed medicines and treating rhythm problems or other vascular risks.
Discuss your symptoms with a neurologist.
Bring your symptom timeline, current medicines and any previous reports to make your consultation more useful.