10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke can happen suddenly, and every minute matters. There usually isn’t a reliable “early stage” that gives you days of warning, so recognizing symptoms when they begin is crucial.
- Face drooping — One side of the face may suddenly feel weak or numb, particularly when smiling.
- Arm or leg weakness — Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body.
- Speech problems — Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding what others are saying.
- Sudden vision changes — Blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking — New trouble walking, coordination problems, or loss of balance.
- Sudden dizziness — Especially when it occurs with other neurological symptoms.
- A sudden severe headache — Particularly a headache that is unusual for the person or reaches maximum intensity very quickly.
- Sudden confusion — Unexpected difficulty understanding, thinking, or responding appropriately.
- Sudden numbness — New loss of sensation in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side.
- Sudden difficulty swallowing — New trouble swallowing or controlling saliva can occur with some strokes.
Remember BE FAST
B — Balance suddenly affected
E — Eyes/vision suddenly affected
F — Face drooping
A — Arm weakness
S — Speech difficulty
T — Time to call emergency services
If any of these symptoms appear suddenly—even if they disappear after a few minutes—seek emergency medical care immediately. Temporary symptoms can be a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and may precede a major stroke.
Don’t drive yourself to the hospital or wait to see if symptoms improve.
