A stroke can happen suddenly, and recognizing the warning signs quickly can make a major difference. The most important thing to remember is B.E. F.A.S.T.
10 warning signs of a stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side.
- Face drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or appear uneven when smiling.
- Arm weakness — one arm may suddenly become weak or drift downward when both arms are raised.
- Speech difficulty — slurred speech, inability to speak, or difficulty understanding others.
- Sudden confusion — difficulty understanding what is happening or following a conversation.
- Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination — trouble walking, dizziness, or unexpected unsteadiness.
- Sudden severe headache — particularly a severe headache with no known cause.
- Sudden difficulty walking — especially when it occurs together with dizziness, weakness, or coordination problems.
- Symptoms that disappear after a few minutes — this can be a TIA (“warning stroke”) and still requires emergency evaluation.
🚨 What to do
Don’t wait to see whether the symptoms improve. If even one of these symptoms appears suddenly, call your local emergency medical service immediately and note the time the symptoms began. Stroke treatments are time-sensitive, and rapid treatment can reduce brain injury and disability.
Remember: B.E. F.A.S.T.
- B — Balance loss
- E — Eye/vision changes
- F — Face drooping
- A — Arm weakness
- S — Speech difficulty
- T — Time to call emergency services
Even if the symptoms go away, don’t ignore them. A TIA can precede a major stroke.
