Stroke symptoms (FAST)
Face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911 — remember FAST. Stroke is an emergency; every minute matters. A provider can help with long-term prevention online.
Also called: signs of stroke · mini stroke TIA · face droop
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ikechukwu Ogbu, MD
MD · Board-Certified, Internal Medicine · Last reviewed
Use FAST and call 911 immediately:
- Face drooping on one side (ask the person to smile)
- Arm weakness — one arm drifts down when both are raised
- Speech difficulty — slurred, garbled, or unable to speak
- Time to call 911 — note when the person was last known well; emergency teams assess eligibility for time-sensitive treatments. Do not delay even if hours have passed
- Sudden confusion, severe headache, vision loss, or trouble walking
Conditions related to stroke symptoms (fast)
These conditions may be associated with this topic. They are not a diagnosis or a ranked list of causes; follow the urgent-care guidance below.
Hypertension
Hypertension is related to this topic. Its presence here does not establish the cause of stroke symptoms (fast) or that acute symptoms can be treated online.
High cholesterol
High cholesterol is related to this topic. Its presence here does not establish the cause of stroke symptoms (fast) or that acute symptoms can be treated online.
When to see a clinician
- Face drooping on one side (ask the person to smile)
- Arm weakness — one arm drifts down when both are raised
- Speech difficulty — slurred, garbled, or unable to speak
- Time to call 911 — note when the person was last known well; emergency teams assess eligibility for time-sensitive treatments. Do not delay even if hours have passed
- Sudden confusion, severe headache, vision loss, or trouble walking