Stroke warning signs: the FAST test and other symptoms to act on at once

The NHS says the main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly, and the easiest way to remember them is the word FAST. The Stroke Association explains the three most common signs and what to check for in someone else.

The FAST test does not cover every stroke. The NHS lists other signs, and the Stroke Association lists a similar set, saying to call 999 straight away if you spot any one of them.

• Sudden weakness or numbness down one side of the body, including the legs, hands or feet.

• Difficulty finding words or speaking in clear sentences.

• Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.

• Sudden memory loss or confusion.

• Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall.

• A sudden, severe headache.

• The NHS also lists feeling or being sick.

The Stroke Association says that if symptoms last only a short amount of time, it could be a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. It says it is still vital to call 999, and that a TIA is a medical emergency and a warning that you are at risk of having a stroke.

The NHS explains that a TIA is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain, and that its effects last a few minutes to a few hours and fully resolve within 24 hours. It adds that in the early stages it is not possible to tell whether you are having a TIA or a full stroke, which is why you should call 999 immediately, and that even if symptoms disappear while waiting for an ambulance you still need to be assessed in hospital.

The NHS says you should be referred to see a specialist within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. If you think you may have had a TIA previously but did not seek advice at the time, it says to make an urgent appointment with a GP.

Call 999 and say you think someone is having a stroke. Tell the call handler when the symptoms started. Do not drive yourself or the person to A&E: the NHS says the person you speak to at 999 will give advice. The Stroke Association points out that ambulance paramedics are trained in stroke and will ensure the person receives emergency medical care and specialist treatment.

Do not wait to see whether symptoms improve: the NHS says that even if symptoms stop after a short time you should still get medical help straight away.

The NHS says a stroke is more likely if you are older but can happen at any age. In its TIA information it lists smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, regularly drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and diabetes as things that increase the chance, and says people over 55 and people of Asian, African or Caribbean descent are also at higher risk.

It adds that lifestyle measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, limiting alcohol and not smoking can lower the risk of a TIA or stroke.

Treatment depends on the type of stroke and how quickly it is recognised. The Stroke Association has further information on the types and causes of stroke, diagnosis and emergency treatment, the effects of stroke and daily life after stroke. After a TIA, the NHS says you are likely to be given advice about lifestyle changes and offered medicine to treat the cause, and in some cases a surgery called carotid endarterectomy may be needed to unblock the carotid arteries.