10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms often begin suddenly, and getting emergency treatment quickly can reduce brain injury and long-term disability. CDC+1
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Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
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Face drooping — one side of the face may become numb or droop when the person smiles.
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Arm weakness — one arm may feel weak or numb or drift downward when both arms are raised.
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Speech problems — speech may suddenly become slurred, strange, or difficult to produce.
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Difficulty understanding speech — sudden confusion or inability to understand what others are saying.
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Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
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Sudden loss of balance or coordination — difficulty walking, dizziness, or unexpected loss of coordination.
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A sudden, severe headache — particularly a severe headache with no known cause.
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Sudden trouble walking — a person may unexpectedly stumble or be unable to walk normally.
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Sudden confusion or other neurological changes — an abrupt change in awareness, communication, or ability to perform familiar tasks can be a warning sign. CDC+1
Remember B.E. F.A.S.T.
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B — Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
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E — Eyes: Sudden vision changes
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F — Face: Facial drooping
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A — Arms: Arm weakness or numbness
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S — Speech: Slurred or difficult speech
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T — Time: Call your local emergency number immediately and note when the symptoms started. www.stroke.org+1
Don’t wait for symptoms to improve. Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they could represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which also requires urgent medical evaluation. CDC+1
If these symptoms are happening right now, seek emergency medical help immediately rather than continuing to read or trying to diagnose the cause yourself.
