Recognizing the early warning signs of a stroke can help someone get emergency medical treatment quickly, which can significantly improve outcomes. A stroke is a medical emergency—if you suspect one, call your local emergency services immediately.
Here are 10 early warning signs of a stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness
- Especially on one side of the body (face, arm, or leg).
- Face drooping
- One side of the face may droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile—an uneven smile is a warning sign.
- Arm weakness
- One arm may feel weak or drift downward when both arms are raised.
- Difficulty speaking
- Speech may become slurred, confused, or difficult to understand.
- Sudden confusion
- Trouble understanding what others are saying or difficulty communicating.
- Vision problems
- Sudden blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Difficulty walking
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or poor coordination.
- Severe headache
- A sudden, intense headache with no known cause, especially if accompanied by other symptoms.
- Trouble swallowing
- Sudden difficulty swallowing or choking unexpectedly.
- Sudden fatigue or altered consciousness
- Unusual drowsiness, fainting, or loss of consciousness, particularly if combined with other stroke symptoms.
Remember the acronym FAST
- F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
- A – Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
- S – Speech: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T – Time: If you notice any of these signs, call emergency services immediately. Every minute counts because rapid treatment can reduce brain damage and improve recovery.
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, seek emergency medical care. Temporary symptoms can be caused by a transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a “mini-stroke,” which is an important warning sign that a full stroke may occur soon.
