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10 early warning signs of a stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. Sudden symptoms should be treated as an emergency rather than waiting to see whether they disappear.
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Face drooping — especially on one side.
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Arm or leg weakness — particularly sudden weakness or numbness on one side.
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Speech problems — slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding others.
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Sudden vision changes — loss or blurring of vision in one or both eyes.
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Sudden severe headache — especially a headache that is unusual or has no obvious cause.
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Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — trouble walking, coordination problems, or unexplained falling.
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Sudden numbness — particularly affecting one side of the body.
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Sudden confusion — difficulty understanding what is happening or following conversation.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing — choking or trouble swallowing can occur with some strokes.
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Sudden loss of coordination — difficulty controlling movements or performing normally familiar tasks.
Remember FAST
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F — Face: Does one side droop?
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A — Arms: Can both arms be raised normally?
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S — Speech: Is speech unusual, slurred, or difficult?
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T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Even if symptoms go away after a few minutes, they can indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which still requires urgent medical assessment. Do not drive yourself to the hospital if emergency transport is available.
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