A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Symptoms of a stroke
The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST:
Face – the face may have dropped on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 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 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.
Preventing a stroke
You can significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke by:
- eating a healthy diet
- taking regular exercise
- following the recommended guidelines on alcohol intake (not drinking more than 14 units a week)
- not smoking
Find out more at nhs.uk/conditions/stroke