10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke is an emergency. Recognizing the signs quickly can help someone get treatment sooner.
Common warning signs include:
Sudden numbness or weakness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side.
Sudden confusion — trouble speaking or understanding speech.
Sudden trouble seeing — blurred or lost vision in one or both eyes.
Sudden difficulty walking — dizziness, loss of balance, or poor coordination.
Sudden severe headache — especially a headache with no known cause.
One side of the face drooping — the smile may look uneven.
One arm becoming weak or numb — especially if it happens suddenly.
Speech becoming unclear — slurred speech or difficulty finding words.
Sudden loss of coordination — difficulty standing or walking normally.
Sudden neurological changes — such as unusual weakness, confusion, or difficulty performing a familiar task.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Is one side drooping?
A — Arms: Can both arms be raised normally?
S — Speech: Is speech strange or slurred?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Even if the symptoms go away after a few minutes, they can be a warning of a TIA (“mini-stroke”) and still require urgent medical assessment.
If someone is experiencing possible stroke symptoms right now, don’t wait to see if they improve—seek emergency medical care immediately.
