10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms usually begin suddenly, and rapid treatment can reduce brain damage.
Know these 10 warning signs
- Sudden weakness or numbness — especially in the face, arm, or leg on one side.
- Facial drooping — one side of the face may feel numb or look uneven when smiling.
- Speech problems — slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination — difficulty walking, dizziness, or unexplained unsteadiness.
- A sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
- Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding what is happening.
- Sudden difficulty swallowing or unexplained problems controlling the mouth.
- Sudden severe dizziness or vertigo, particularly when accompanied by other neurological symptoms.
- Sudden unexplained difficulty performing familiar movements or coordinating an arm or leg.
The most important symptoms are captured by B.E. F.A.S.T.: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, Time.
⏱️ What to do
Don’t wait to see whether the symptoms disappear. Call your local emergency number immediately and note the time the symptoms started. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital; emergency medical services can begin assessment and treatment on the way.
Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, it could be a TIA (“mini-stroke”), which is still a medical emergency and requires urgent evaluation.
