Quick Answer
FAST —— Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech change, Time to emergency —— even if symptoms resolve, it is still urgent.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav • NMC 8029 • Kathmandu Neurology Clinic & Cognitive Center
Direct answer: Stroke signs are sudden: one-sided face droop, arm weakness or numbness, slurred speech or aphasia, vision loss, severe imbalance or thunderclap headache. Call emergency immediately —— note the time of onset —— and do not give food, drink or leave the person alone. Kathmandu Neurology Clinic & Cognitive Center provides outpatient prevention and follow-up, but acute stroke needs hospital emergency care.
Key points: - TIA (transient ischemic attack) —— symptoms that resolve —— still carries 10——20% stroke risk within 90 days, half within 48 hours; same-day evaluation is mandatory. - FAST plus Balance and Eyes (BE-FAST) captures posterior circulation strokes; do not wait to see if it improves. - After emergency stabilization, secondary prevention (blood pressure, antithrombotics, statins, lifestyle) sharply cuts early recurrence.
Dr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav — consultant neurologist & headache specialist at Kathmandu Neurology Clinic & Cognitive Center provides evidence-based evaluation for stroke & tia.
Detailed explanation: Dr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav (NMC 8029), Consultant Neurologist with 15+ years at National Trauma Center (NAMS), emphasizes rapid hospital pathways: vascular imaging, heart rhythm monitoring, and risk-factor control. At Kathmandu Neurology Clinic, Durbar Marg, Opposite of Yak & Yeti Hotel, he provides ABCD2-based TIA triage context, post-stroke risk assessment, and rehabilitation planning for patients after discharge —— distinct from emergency thrombolysis or thrombectomy which must occur in hospital.
Bring time-of-onset note, medication list and prior vascular imaging to follow-up; for acute symptoms, go to emergency now.
Frequently asked questions
Answers reviewed by Dr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav • MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), FICN (Neurology), FCNV, FIHM • NMC 8029
Note time of onset, call emergency services, do not give food/drink or leave the person alone.
TIA symptoms resolve, but it signals high short-term stroke risk. Urgent evaluation and prevention planning are essential.
Early discussion is helpful when concerns affect daily life; screening approach is individualized.
No; occasional lapses, stress-related memory changes, and other conditions can affect memory. Persistent functional impact warrants evaluation.
FAST: Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech change, Time to emergency. TIA (transient deficit that resolves) is also an emergency — 10–20% have stroke within 90 days. At the clinic, secondary prevention (antiplatelet/anticoagulant, blood pressure, statin, diabetes control) and rehabilitation planning follow hospital dischar…
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References & Review
Reviewed by Dr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav • Last reviewed: 2026-09-04
- International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3).
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine — Neurology sections.
- American Academy of Neurology guidelines for selected conditions (where applicable).
Content is educational and aligns with standard medical references; individual evaluation may vary. External links provide context and do not imply endorsement.