8 Warning Signs of Stroke and 9 Tips to Help Prevent It
A stroke can happen suddenly, but some people experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) beforehand. A TIA can cause stroke-like symptoms that disappear, but it is still a medical emergency and may be a warning of a future stroke.
8 Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore
- Sudden numbness or weakness — especially on one side of the body.
- Face drooping — one side of the face may suddenly feel weak or look uneven.
- Arm weakness — one arm may suddenly become weak or difficult to lift.
- Speech problems — slurred speech or difficulty finding or understanding words.
- Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or reduced vision.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking or coordinating movements.
- Sudden severe headache — especially when it has no obvious cause.
- Symptoms that disappear quickly — this can be a TIA and still requires urgent medical assessment.
Remember B.E. F.A.S.T.
B — Balance problems
E — Eye or vision changes
F — Face drooping
A — Arm weakness
S — Speech difficulty
T — Time to call emergency services
If these symptoms appear, don’t wait for them to go away. Get emergency medical help immediately and note when the symptoms began.
9 Ways to Lower Your Stroke Risk
- Keep blood pressure under control.
- Check and manage cholesterol.
- Control diabetes and blood sugar.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
- Exercise regularly.
- Choose a heart-healthy diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and other minimally processed foods.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Take prescribed medicines as directed.
- Have regular health checkups and discuss your individual stroke risk with your healthcare professional.
Bottom line: There is no dependable list of symptoms that means a stroke will happen exactly one month later. But recognizing a TIA or sudden stroke symptoms and getting emergency care quickly can be lifesaving.
