Stroke Warning Signs: FAST and When to Call an Ambulance

By Dashvanth Healthcare Medical Team · Reviewed by our specialists · East Delhi

Stroke Is a Medical Emergency

Every minute of stroke, 1.9 million brain neurons die. Prompt action — calling an ambulance immediately — is the single most important thing a bystander can do. Treatment within the "golden window" (4.5 hours for clot-busting, 24 hours for thrombectomy) can restore function completely.

The FAST Acronym

• F — Face drooping: One side of the face droops; asymmetric smile
• A — Arm weakness: One arm weak or numb; cannot hold both arms raised equally
• S — Speech difficulty: Slurred, garbled, or inability to speak or understand
• T — Time to call 112: If ANY of these signs, call immediately

Additional Signs (BE-FAST)

• B — Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• E — Eyes: Sudden vision loss or double vision in one or both eyes

Types of Stroke

• Ischaemic (85%): Blood clot blocks a brain artery. Treated with tPA (clot-buster) or mechanical thrombectomy
• Haemorrhagic (15%): Blood vessel bursts in or around the brain. Surgical treatment in selected cases

Risk Factors You Can Control

• High blood pressure (most important) — target <130/80 mmHg
• Atrial fibrillation — anticoagulation prevents embolic stroke
• Diabetes and high cholesterol
• Smoking — doubles stroke risk
• Obesity and physical inactivity