10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke can happen suddenly, and fast treatment can reduce brain damage and disability. Don’t wait to see whether symptoms improve.
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Sudden numbness or weakness — Especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side.
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Facial drooping — One side of the face may suddenly feel weak or look uneven when smiling.
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Sudden trouble speaking — Speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to produce.
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Difficulty understanding speech — A person may suddenly have trouble understanding what others are saying.
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Sudden vision problems — Blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
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Sudden dizziness or loss of balance — New difficulty walking, coordination problems, or severe unexplained dizziness.
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Sudden severe headache — A sudden, unusually intense headache, particularly if accompanied by other neurological symptoms.
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Sudden confusion — Abrupt difficulty thinking, understanding, or responding normally.
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Sudden difficulty swallowing — New trouble swallowing can occur with some strokes.
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Sudden loss of coordination — Unexplained inability to control an arm or leg normally can be a warning sign.
Remember BE FAST
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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 — Arm: Weakness or numbness
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S — Speech: Speech difficulty
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T — Time: Call emergency medical services immediately
Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, don’t ignore them. They could represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which can be a warning of a future stroke.
If stroke symptoms are happening right now, seek emergency medical care immediately rather than driving yourself or waiting for an appointment.
