10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke can happen suddenly, and every minute matters. If you notice possible stroke symptoms, don’t wait to see whether they disappear—call your local emergency service immediately.
Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or the smile may become uneven.
Sudden trouble speaking — speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to understand.
Sudden difficulty understanding — the person may struggle to understand simple questions or instructions.
Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking — new dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty coordinating movements.
Sudden severe headache — especially a sudden, unexplained headache unlike previous headaches.
Sudden confusion — an abrupt change in awareness, thinking, or orientation.
Sudden difficulty swallowing — particularly when it occurs along with other neurological symptoms.
Sudden loss of coordination — unusual clumsiness or inability to control an arm or leg normally.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Is one side drooping?
A — Arms: Can both arms be raised and kept up?
S — Speech: Is speech slurred or strange?
T — Time: Call emergency services immediately.
Even if symptoms improve or disappear, they can represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “mini-stroke,” and still require urgent medical evaluation.
If these symptoms are happening right now, don’t drive yourself to the hospital. Call emergency services and note the time the symptoms began (or the last time the person was known to be well).
