The headline **“a month before a stroke, your body warns you” is misleading**. There isn’t a reliable 30-day warning period. A stroke can occur suddenly, but some people experience a **TIA (transient ischemic attack)** beforehand. A TIA can produce the same symptoms as a stroke and then resolve, but it still requires urgent medical evaluation. ## 10 warning signs to take seriously – **Sudden numbness or weakness**, especially on one side of the body. – **Sudden facial drooping** or an uneven smile. – **Sudden trouble speaking** or understanding speech. – **Sudden vision loss or double vision**, particularly in one eye. – **Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination.** – **Sudden difficulty walking** or controlling an arm or leg. – **Sudden confusion** or difficulty understanding what is happening. – **Sudden difficulty swallowing.** – **Sudden severe headache** with no obvious explanation, particularly if it comes with neurological symptoms. – **Brief stroke-like symptoms that completely disappear** — this may be a TIA and should not be dismissed. ### 🚨 Think FAST **F — Face:** Does one side droop?\ **A — Arm:** Is one arm weak or numb?\ **S — Speech:** Is speech slurred or strange?\ **T — Time:** **Call emergency services immediately.** Don’t wait to see whether symptoms improve and don’t drive yourself. **Even symptoms that disappear can be an emergency.** If any of these symptoms are happening **right now**, seek emergency medical care immediately.