10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms often begin suddenly, and getting treatment quickly can reduce the risk of permanent brain damage. Remember BE FAST:
- Balance problems — Sudden dizziness, difficulty walking, or loss of coordination.
- Eye problems — Sudden blurred or double vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Face drooping — One side of the face may become numb or droop when smiling.
- Arm weakness or numbness — Especially sudden weakness affecting one side of the body.
- Speech difficulty — Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden severe headache — Particularly a sudden, unexplained headache unlike previous headaches.
- Sudden confusion — New difficulty understanding, thinking, or responding.
- Sudden numbness — Unexplained numbness or loss of sensation, particularly on one side.
- Sudden difficulty swallowing — New trouble swallowing or controlling the mouth.
- Sudden loss of coordination — New difficulty controlling movements or walking normally.
🚨 Act FAST
If any one of these symptoms appears suddenly, call your local emergency medical service immediately. Don’t wait to see whether the symptoms disappear, and don’t drive yourself to the hospital.
Also, note the exact time the person was last known to be well. Some stroke treatments are time-sensitive, and that information can be crucial to the medical team.
Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they may represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and still require urgent medical assessment.
