Signs and symptoms

If someone has a stroke, knowing the signs and symptoms and acting FAST can:

• improve their chances of survival
• reduce the level of disability that results from a stroke

The most common symptoms to look out for are blurred vision, slurred speech or muscle weakness when otherwise feeling well.

Check for the following:

• 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

A full-blown stroke could include:

• numbness or weakness in face, arm, hand or leg on just one side of the body
• confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding what someone is saying
• difficulty swallowing
• sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• trouble walking and dizziness
• loss of balance or co-ordination
• severe headache, sudden vomiting or unconsciousness

With a stroke it’s important to act immediately, as early treatment is vital. You should either:

• dial 999
• or go to a hospital Accident and Emergency department

When 999 is called they will be brought by ambulance to the nearest acute stroke centre.

You can find further information on this page:

Preventing strokes

Your chances of having a stroke reduce if you understand the risks and take action to prevent a stroke happening.

You can reduce your risk of having a stroke by:

• knowing and managing your personal risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, an irregular heartbeat (for example, atrial fibrillation) and high blood cholesterol
• exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight
• reducing the amount of alcohol you drink
• stopping smoking

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