10 Early Warning Signs Your Body Might Be Signaling a Stroke (Don’t Ignore These)

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Symptoms can appear suddenly, and getting emergency medical help quickly can make a major difference.

Remember the acronym FAST:

F — Face drooping: One side of the face may feel numb or appear uneven when smiling.
A — Arm weakness: Sudden weakness, numbness, or inability to lift one arm.
S — Speech difficulty: Slurred speech, trouble finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
T — Time to call emergency services: Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.

Other possible warning signs include:

Sudden numbness or weakness
- Especially on one side of the body (face, arm, or leg).
Sudden confusion or trouble understanding
- Feeling disoriented, unable to follow a conversation, or having difficulty processing information.
Sudden vision changes
- Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Sudden severe headache
- A very intense headache that appears without a known cause, especially if it feels different from usual headaches.
Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- Difficulty coordinating movements, stumbling, or feeling like the room is spinning.
Sudden difficulty speaking or swallowing
- Trouble forming words, understanding speech, or swallowing normally.
Sudden weakness or clumsiness
- Dropping objects, difficulty using a hand, or losing coordination.
Facial drooping or uneven smile
- One side of the mouth or face may sag.
Memory problems or unusual behavior changes
- Sudden personality changes, confusion, or inability to perform familiar tasks.
Transient symptoms that go away

A temporary episode of stroke-like symptoms may be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “mini-stroke.” Even if symptoms disappear, it requires urgent medical evaluation because it can be a warning sign of a future stroke.