How to identify a stroke

The acronym FAST is an easy way to remember the symptoms.

• Face – the face may have sagged on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.
• Arms – the person may be unable to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm.
• Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them.
• Time – it's time to dial the emergency services immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms.

FAST (face, arms, speech, time) can identify most strokes, however, sometimes a stroke can present with different symptoms, such as:

• Complete paralysis of 1 side of the body
• Sudden loss or blurring of vision
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Difficulty understanding what other people are saying
• Problems with balance and coordination
• Difficulty swallowing (known medically as dysphagia)
• A sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before
• Loss of consciousness

Transient ischemic attack, also known as TIA or mini-stroke, is when a part of your brain has a reduced blood supply, like a stroke, but the symptoms only last for a short period and have fully resolved by 24 hours. TIA's still need urgent medical attention, as they present exactly like a stroke and so must be treated with the same urgency. If the symptoms resolve, this is still a serious problem as it can be a sign of an underlying condition and may later lead to a full stroke. Unfortunately, some people ignore TIAs as their symptoms resolve; however, medical attention must be sought immediately by calling the emergency services.

If you think you have had a TIA before, but the symptoms have since passed, and you did not seek medical advice at the time, make an urgent appointment with a doctor to discuss this further.