10 early warning signs of a stroke
A stroke is an emergency. Don’t wait for all the symptoms to appear or wait to see whether they improve. Treatment is time-sensitive.
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Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side.
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Sudden facial drooping or an uneven smile.
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Sudden difficulty speaking — slurred speech, inability to find words, or trouble understanding others.
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Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding what is happening.
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Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
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Sudden trouble walking or loss of coordination.
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Sudden dizziness or severe loss of balance.
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Sudden severe headache with no known cause, particularly if accompanied by other neurological symptoms.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing, especially when it occurs with other stroke symptoms.
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Sudden loss of sensation or coordination on one side of the body.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Is one side drooping?
A — Arm: Can the person raise both arms normally?
S — Speech: Is speech unusual or slurred?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they may represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which also requires urgent medical evaluation.
If you or someone with you has these symptoms right now, call your local emergency service immediately rather than continuing to read or trying to drive to the hospital yourself.
