Sharon Galicia, MD, a neurologist with The Everett Clinic discusses strokes. Strokes happen with part of the brain doesn't get enough blood. Because each part of the brain does something different, you can have a variety of symptoms when experiencing a stroke. FAST is a mnemonic used to detect a stroke - F stands for facial drooping, A stands for arm weakness, S stands for speech disturbances and T stands for time. The best way to prevent a stroke is to live a healthy lifestyle, but medication is also an option.