“A month before a stroke”: 10 signs to know
The claim that your body reliably warns you one month before a stroke is misleading. A stroke can happen suddenly, and there isn’t a validated list of 10 symptoms that predicts a stroke 30 days in advance.
However, some people experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA)—sometimes called a “mini-stroke”—before an actual stroke. A TIA can cause the same symptoms as a stroke, but they resolve, often within minutes or hours. A TIA is a medical emergency and an important warning that a stroke may follow.
Symptoms you should never ignore
Watch for sudden:
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Weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
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Facial drooping or an uneven smile
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Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
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Loss or sudden change of vision in one or both eyes
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Severe dizziness or loss of balance/coordination
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Difficulty walking
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A sudden, unusually severe headache, particularly when accompanied by other neurological symptoms
These symptoms can disappear quickly during a TIA. That does not make them harmless.
Remember FAST
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F — Face: Is one side drooping?
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A — Arms: Can the person raise both arms normally?
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S — Speech: Is speech slurred or strange?
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T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Don’t wait for symptoms to return or try to drive yourself to the hospital. Rapid treatment can reduce brain injury and disability.
If you’re asking because you or someone else is experiencing one of these symptoms right now, treat it as an emergency—even if the symptoms have already improved.
