10 Early Warning Signs of a Stroke Everyone Should Know
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Stroke symptoms usually begin suddenly, and getting emergency treatment quickly can reduce brain damage and disability.
1. Sudden weakness on one side
One arm, leg, or side of the face may suddenly become weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms—if one drifts downward, treat it as an emergency.
2. Facial drooping
One side of the face may suddenly droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile and look for an uneven smile.
3. Sudden speech problems
Speech may suddenly become slurred, strange, difficult to understand, or impossible. The person may also have trouble understanding what others are saying.
4. Sudden confusion
Someone may suddenly seem disoriented, unable to follow a conversation, or unable to understand familiar words or instructions.
5. Sudden trouble seeing
Blurred or double vision—or sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes—can occur during a stroke.
6. Sudden difficulty walking
A person who suddenly becomes unsteady, dizzy, or unable to walk normally may be experiencing a stroke.
7. Sudden loss of coordination or balance
Unexpected difficulty coordinating the arms or legs, stumbling, or losing balance is another important warning sign.
8. Sudden severe headache
A sudden, unusually severe headache with no known cause can be a stroke symptom, particularly with other neurological symptoms.
9. Sudden numbness
Sudden loss of sensation—especially in the face, arm, or leg and particularly on one side—is a warning sign that should not be dismissed.
10. Symptoms that disappear
Don’t assume everything is fine because symptoms improve after a few minutes. A TIA (transient ischemic attack) can cause stroke-like symptoms that resolve, but it is still a medical emergency and may warn of a future stroke
