10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke is a medical emergency. Recognizing the signs quickly and getting emergency medical care can help reduce brain damage and disability.
-
Sudden numbness or weakness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
-
Sudden trouble speaking — slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
-
Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or appear to droop when smiling.
-
Sudden vision problems — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
-
Sudden severe headache — especially a sudden, unusually intense headache with no known cause.
-
Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking, coordination problems, or unexplained dizziness.
-
Sudden confusion — difficulty understanding what is happening or following a conversation.
-
Sudden difficulty swallowing — choking or trouble swallowing can sometimes occur with stroke.
-
Sudden trouble walking — new weakness, staggering, or inability to coordinate movements.
-
Sudden loss of consciousness or seizure — these can occur in some strokes and require immediate emergency care.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Does one side droop?
A — Arms: Is one arm weak or numb?
S — Speech: Is speech slurred or strange?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Don’t wait for symptoms to improve. Note the time the symptoms started (or the last time the person was known to be well) and seek emergency medical attention immediately. Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they may indicate a TIA (“mini-stroke”), which also requires urgent medical evaluation.
