The headline “A month before a stroke, your body warns you” is misleading. A stroke doesn’t reliably give a set of warning symptoms exactly one month beforehand. However, some people experience a TIA (transient ischemic attack) shortly before a major stroke. A TIA has the same sudden neurological symptoms as a stroke, but they resolve because the blockage is temporary.
10 warning signs that should never be ignored
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Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the face or body.
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Sudden facial drooping or an uneven smile.
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Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
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Sudden vision loss or double vision, particularly in one eye.
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Sudden severe dizziness or loss of balance/coordination.
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Sudden difficulty walking.
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Sudden confusion or trouble understanding what’s happening.
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Sudden severe headache with no obvious cause, particularly if it is accompanied by neurological symptoms.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing.
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A brief episode of stroke-like symptoms that completely disappears—this can be a TIA and still requires urgent evaluation.
Remember FAST
F — Face: Is one side drooping?
A — Arms: Is one arm weak or numb?
S — Speech: Is speech slurred or unusual?
T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately.
Don’t wait for symptoms to disappear. A TIA is a medical warning, not something to simply monitor at home. Prompt assessment can identify the cause and reduce the risk of a subsequent stroke.
