“A month before a stroke”: 10 warning signs to know
There isn’t a reliable set of symptoms that predict a stroke exactly one month in advance. However, some people experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA)—sometimes called a “mini-stroke”—before a major ischemic stroke. A TIA can cause stroke-like symptoms that disappear within minutes or hours, but it is still an emergency.
10 symptoms that should never be ignored
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Sudden numbness or weakness, particularly on one side of the face, arm, or leg.
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Sudden trouble speaking—slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
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Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
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Sudden difficulty walking, loss of balance, or coordination problems.
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Sudden dizziness or severe vertigo, particularly with other neurological symptoms.
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Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding what is happening.
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Sudden severe headache with no known cause, especially if it reaches maximum intensity very quickly.
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Sudden facial drooping, such as one side of the mouth appearing lower.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing or unexplained choking.
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A brief episode of stroke-like symptoms that completely resolves—this can be a TIA and should not be dismissed.
The key point
Don’t wait for symptoms to become persistent or assume that a symptom occurring days or weeks earlier was a harmless warning. Stroke symptoms require immediate emergency assessment. If symptoms are happening now, note the time they started and contact your local emergency medical service immediately.
A useful way to remember the classic warning signs is FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to seek emergency help.
