What are the signs of a stroke?

Use FAST: Face — has their face drooped, can they smile? Arms — can they lift both arms and keep them there? Speech — is their speech slurred, can they repeat a simple sentence? Time — call 000 (or your emergency number) immediately. Every minute without treatment, approximately 1.9 million brain cells die. Other signs include sudden severe headache, sudden vision changes in one or both eyes, sudden dizziness or loss of balance, sudden numbness or weakness in the leg, and sudden confusion.

What are the risk factors for stroke?

The biggest modifiable risk factor is high blood pressure — it contributes to roughly 50% of all strokes. Other major risk factors include atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat, increases stroke risk 5-fold), diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol, and previous stroke or TIA. Non-modifiable risk factors include age (risk doubles each decade after 55), family history, and being male (slightly higher risk, though women have more fatal strokes).

Can stroke be prevented?

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable. The most effective prevention measures are controlling blood pressure (target below 140/90, or below 130/80 if diabetic), treating atrial fibrillation with blood thinners if indicated (your GP can assess your stroke risk with the CHA2DS2-VASc score), managing diabetes and cholesterol, quitting smoking (risk halves within 2-5 years of quitting), regular exercise (150 minutes per week), reducing salt intake (less than 5g per day), and limiting alcohol to no more than 10 standard drinks per week.

Know Your Stroke Risk

FAST signs, risk factors, and what you can do. Stroke is a medical emergency — every minute matters.

📋 Source: Stroke Foundation Australia. FAST campaign (Face, Arms, Speech, Time). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare — Stroke data. ESC/AHA guidelines for stroke prevention. 1.9 million neurons per minute statistic: Saver, Stroke 2006.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

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⚠ Important: This is general health information only, not a diagnostic tool. It does not replace assessment by your doctor. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 000 immediately — do not use this page to decide. Your healthcare provider knows your individual risk factors and circumstances.

🚨 Think FAST — act FAST

Face

Has their face drooped on one side? Can they smile? Is their mouth or eye drooping?

Arms

Can they lift both arms and keep them there? Does one arm drift down or feel weak?

Speech

Is their speech slurred or hard to understand? Can they repeat a simple sentence?

Time — call 000 now

If you see ANY of these signs, call emergency services immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Every minute without treatment, approximately 1.9 million brain cells die.

Other warning signs

FAST catches most strokes, but also watch for:

🤕Sudden severe headache — worst headache of their life, with no known cause 👁️Sudden vision loss — in one or both eyes, or sudden double vision 🌀Sudden dizziness — loss of balance, coordination, or trouble walking 🦵Sudden leg weakness — FAST focuses on face and arms, but legs can also be affected 😵Sudden confusion — difficulty understanding others or thinking clearly

Key word: sudden. Stroke symptoms come on suddenly, not gradually over days. If any of these appear out of nowhere, think stroke.

How to reduce your risk

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable. The most effective actions:

💓Control blood pressure — the single biggest factor. Target below 140/90 (or below 130/80 if diabetic). Get it checked at least every 2 years. Track your BP → ❤️Treat atrial fibrillation — AF increases stroke risk 5-fold. Blood thinners reduce this risk by ~65%. Your GP can check your pulse or do an ECG. CHA₂DS₂-VASc score → 🩸Manage diabetes — keep HbA1c in target range. HbA1c converter → 🧂Reduce salt — less than 5g per day. Reduces stroke risk by ~22%. Too much salt guide → 🚭Quit smoking — risk halves within 2-5 years. Pack-year calculator → 🚶Exercise — 150 minutes per week of moderate activity. Walking counts. 🍺Limit alcohol — no more than 10 standard drinks per week. Standard drinks calculator → ❤️Know your heart risk — your GP can calculate your overall cardiovascular risk. Heart risk calculator →

A TIA (transient ischaemic attack) causes the same symptoms as a stroke but they resolve within minutes to hours, usually within 24 hours. A TIA is a medical emergency — it is a warning that a full stroke may follow. Up to 1 in 5 people who have a TIA will have a stroke within 90 days, often within 48 hours.

If you have TIA symptoms, call 000 even if they go away. You need urgent investigation — brain imaging, carotid ultrasound, ECG, blood tests — and often need to start blood thinners or aspirin immediately.

Stroke is not just an older person's condition. About 30% of strokes occur in people under 65. In younger adults, stroke can be caused by dissection (a tear in the artery wall, sometimes from trauma or chiropractic manipulation), blood clotting disorders, heart defects (patent foramen ovale), drug use (cocaine, amphetamines), and the oral contraceptive pill in combination with smoking and migraines with aura.

The FAST signs are the same regardless of age. Never dismiss stroke symptoms in a young person.

Recovery varies enormously. Some people recover fully, others have lasting effects on movement, speech, cognition, or mood. Rehabilitation starts in hospital and continues at home — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and psychology all play a role.

If you or someone you care for has had a stroke, Stroke Foundation Australia provides information, support groups, and a helpline: 1800 STROKE (1800 787 653).

For post-stroke recovery tracking and daily monitoring, visit Postopcare.info.

See how stroke affects your local community

strokeimpact.org.au — stroke data by electorate →

Know Your Stroke Risk

🚨 Think FAST — act FAST

Other warning signs

🔍 Check your risk factors

How to reduce your risk