How to diagnose a stroke
Strokes occur quickly, so that often a stroke diagnosis will have to be made before an individual can be seen by a doctor.
The acronym FAST is a way to remember the signs of stroke, and can help toward identifying the onset of stroke in someone:
Face drooping: if the person tries to smile does one side of the face droop?
Arm weakness: if the person tries to raise both their arms does one arm drift downward?
Speech difficulty: if the person tries to repeat a simple phrase is their speech slurred or strange?
Time to call 911: if any of these signs are observed, contact the emergency services.