10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms often begin suddenly, and getting treatment quickly can reduce brain damage and disability.
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Sudden numbness or weakness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
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Sudden trouble speaking — slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or inability to understand speech.
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Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile.
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Sudden vision problems — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
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Sudden severe headache — particularly a sudden, unexplained headache unlike previous headaches.
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Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — difficulty walking, coordination problems, or unexplained falling.
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Sudden confusion — difficulty understanding what is happening or following simple instructions.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing — choking or an unusual inability to swallow.
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Sudden loss of coordination — trouble using an arm or leg accurately or controlling movements.
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Sudden difficulty walking — new weakness, staggering, or inability to walk normally.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Does one side droop?
A — Arms: Can they raise both arms equally?
S — Speech: Is their speech strange or slurred?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they could indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA, sometimes called a “mini-stroke”) and still require urgent medical assessment.
Don’t wait to see whether symptoms improve, and don’t drive yourself to the hospital. Note the time the symptoms first appeared, because this can affect treatment options.
