A 68-year-old man was brought to the emergency department by his wife after she noticed he was unable to speak clearly and had weakness in his right arm and leg. The symptoms began abruptly about one hour before arrival, while he was watching television. His wife reported that he had also experienced difficulty understanding her when she spoke to him.

Upon arrival, the patient was alert but exhibited slurred speech, known as dysarthria, and weakness in the right upper and lower extremities, indicating possible right-sided hemiparesis. A quick assessment using the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) scale showed that he had facial drooping on the right side and could not lift his right arm above his shoulder.

The patient had a medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia and was taking medication for both conditions. He had quit smoking five years earlier but had a long history of tobacco use. Neurological examination revealed that his Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 14, with no signs of significant cognitive impairment.

A CT scan of the head was performed, confirming an ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery territory. The patient was administered tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within the recommended time window for treatment of ischemic stroke. Following the acute treatment, he was admitted to the stroke unit for close monitoring and rehabilitation.

During his hospital stay, a multidisciplinary team, including physical and speech therapists, began working with him to regain function and improve communication skills. The importance of lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and regular follow-up appointments with a neurologist were emphasized to the patient and his family to prevent future strokes.