F.A.S.T. is an acronym used to assess stroke symptoms. Which of the following is part of it?

• A. Heart rate
• B. Face drooping
• C. Breathing rate
• D. Nausea

Answer: (C)

F.A.S.T. is a quick way to spot stroke signs by focusing on facial movement, arm strength, speech, and the urgency to get help. The part of this mnemonic that matches the option is face drooping. A stroke can cause one side of the face to sag or feel numb, so you can test by asking the person to smile—if it’s uneven or one side doesn’t move, that’s a warning sign. The other options aren’t part of F.A.S.T.; they aren’t described in this mnemonic. If you observe face drooping along with potential speech difficulty or arm weakness, act fast and call emergency services right away.