10 Early
Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke can happen suddenly
, and every minute matters. Knowing the warning signs can help you get emergency treatment
quickly.
- Sudden numbness or weakness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
- Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may feel weak or look uneven when smiling.
- Sudden trouble speaking — speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to understand.
- Sudden difficulty understanding — the person may suddenly struggle to understand simple words or instructions.
- Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden severe headache — particularly a sudden, unexplained headache unlike previous headaches.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking, coordination problems, or unexplained falling.
- Sudden confusion — unusual disorientation or difficulty knowing where they are or what is happening.
- Sudden difficulty swallowing — new trouble swallowing or controlling saliva can occur with some strokes.
- Sudden loss of coordination — new difficulty using an arm or hand accurately or performing familiar movements.
Remember: BE FAST
- B — Balance: sudden loss of balance or coordination
- E — Eyes: sudden vision changes
- F — Face: one side of the face droops
- A — Arm: sudden weakness or numbness
- S — Speech: sudden slurred or unusual speech
- T — Time: call emergency medical services immediately
Do not wait for symptoms to improve. Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they may represent a TIA (“mini-stroke”) and still require urgent medical evaluation.
