10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke is a medical emergency. Recognizing the warning signs quickly and getting emergency medical care can reduce brain damage and improve the chances of recovery.
- Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, often affecting one side of the body.
- Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or appear uneven when smiling.
- Sudden trouble speaking — speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to understand.
- Sudden difficulty understanding speech — the person may struggle to understand what others are saying.
- Sudden vision problems — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden severe headache — particularly a very intense headache with no obvious cause.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking, standing, or coordinating movements.
- Sudden confusion — unexplained disorientation or difficulty thinking clearly.
- Sudden trouble swallowing — difficulty swallowing or an unusual choking sensation can occur.
- Sudden difficulty walking or coordination problems — stumbling, clumsiness, or inability to control movements.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
A — Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
S — Speech: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred or unusual?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately. Note the time the symptoms started, or the last time the person was known to be well.
Don’t wait for symptoms to disappear. Even if the signs improve or disappear after a few minutes, they may indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which still requires urgent medical evaluation.
If someone is experiencing these symptoms right now, seek emergency medical care immediately rather than continuing to read or waiting for a doctor’s appointment.
