Recognising symptoms of a Stroke

The FAST test

The first signs of a stroke can be very sudden. Applying the FAST test can indicate whether the symptoms you are observing suggest the person is having a stroke or TIA:

Face. Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms. Can they raise both arms and keep them there
Speech. Is their speech slurred?
Time. Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs.

Ambulance staff are trained to assess people with a suspected stroke and get them to an appropriate hospital for tests and urgent treatment. The sooner you receive appropriate treatment, the better your chances of a good recovery.

We are grateful for the generous support of Dr Naim Dangoor OBE
and the Exilarch Foundation

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Age UK Advice:
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Useful websites

  • The Health A-Z section of this website contains information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of many types of illnesses.

  • The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the early assessment and treatment of NHS patients

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