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The new force combining Age Concern logo & Help the Aged logo

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

Your Age UK

Set your location to see what Age UK offers in your local area.

Age UK Advice:
0800 169 6565
A stairlift

Aids for the home

We have a variety of aids to help you feel safe and move around with ease at home, including stairlifts, personal alarms, bath lifts and assistive furniture.

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

  • DirectGov provides information on more than 100 topics covering all aspects of healthy living and advice on coping with long-term health conditions as well as the NHS and health services

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