10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. Recognizing symptoms quickly and getting emergency care can help reduce brain damage.
-
Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
-
Sudden facial drooping — one side of the face may droop or feel numb; a smile may look uneven.
-
Sudden trouble speaking — speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to understand.
-
Sudden difficulty understanding speech — the person may struggle to understand what others are saying.
-
Sudden vision problems — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
-
Sudden trouble walking — difficulty with balance, coordination, or staying upright.
-
Sudden dizziness or severe loss of coordination — particularly when it begins unexpectedly.
-
Sudden severe headache — especially an unusually intense headache with no known cause.
-
Sudden confusion — unexpected difficulty thinking clearly, responding appropriately, or knowing where they are.
-
Sudden difficulty swallowing — choking, coughing while swallowing, or an abrupt inability to swallow can occur with some strokes.
Remember: BE FAST
-
B — Balance: sudden loss of balance or coordination
-
E — Eyes: sudden vision changes
-
F — Face: one side of the face droops
-
A — Arms: one arm becomes weak or numb
-
S — Speech: speech becomes slurred or difficult to understand
-
T — Time: call emergency medical services immediately
Don’t wait for symptoms to improve. Stroke treatment is time-sensitive, and even symptoms that disappear after a few minutes can indicate a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and require urgent medical assessment.
