A Month Before a Stroke: 10 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
The idea that your body reliably gives 10 warning signs exactly one month before a stroke is misleading. A stroke can occur suddenly without weeks of warning. However, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) can produce temporary stroke-like symptoms and is an important warning that a future stroke may occur.
Symptoms that require urgent attention
Watch for sudden episodes of:
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Numbness or weakness, particularly on one side of the body
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Facial drooping or numbness on one side
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Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
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Difficulty understanding speech
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Sudden vision loss or major vision changes
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Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
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Sudden difficulty walking or coordinating movements
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Sudden severe headache with no obvious cause
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Sudden confusion or disorientation
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Temporary stroke-like symptoms that disappear — these can be a TIA and should not be dismissed simply because the person feels normal again.
Remember B.E. F.A.S.T.
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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: one side drooping
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A — Arm: sudden weakness or numbness
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S — Speech: slurred or difficult speech
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T — Time: call emergency services immediately
The CDC and American Stroke Association emphasize that stroke is an emergency and treatment is time-sensitive
