10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke often happens suddenly, and getting medical treatment quickly can reduce brain damage and disability. Don’t wait for all the symptoms to appear.
The warning signs
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Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
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Facial drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or appear uneven when smiling.
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Sudden trouble speaking — slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
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Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
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Sudden severe headache — particularly a headache that is unusual for the person and comes on abruptly.
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Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking or coordinating movements.
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Sudden confusion — trouble understanding what is happening or following simple instructions.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing — particularly when it occurs with other neurological symptoms.
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Sudden loss of coordination — difficulty using an arm or hand accurately.
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Sudden difficulty walking — stumbling or being unable to walk normally without an obvious explanation.
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B — Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
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E — Eyes: Sudden vision changes
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F — Face: Ask the person to smile—does one side droop?
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A — Arms: Ask them to raise both arms—is one weak or drifting downward?
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S — Speech: Is speech slurred, strange, or difficult?
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T — Time: Call your local emergency service immediately.
A TIA (“mini-stroke”) can cause similar symptoms that disappear after minutes or hours. Even if symptoms completely resolve, it still requires urgent medical evaluation, because a TIA can be a warning of a future stroke.
Don’t drive yourself to the hospital and don’t wait to see if symptoms improve. Note the time the symptoms started (or the last time the person was known to be normal) and tell emergency responders.
