Recognizing stroke symptoms quickly can save lives. A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bleeds. Fast medical attention is critical.
10 early warning signs of a stroke:
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Especially on one side of the face, arm, or leg.
- Face drooping
- One side of the face may feel weak or appear uneven when smiling.
- Arm weakness
- Trouble raising or keeping one arm lifted.
- Speech problems
- Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding words.
- Sudden confusion
- A person may seem disoriented or unable to understand what is happening.
- Sudden vision changes
- Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden severe headache
- Especially a “worst headache ever” or a headache that appears without a known cause.
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble walking, coordination problems, or feeling unusually unsteady.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sudden trouble controlling the muscles used for swallowing can occur.
- Sudden numbness or unusual sensations
- A sudden change in feeling, particularly on one side of the body.
Remember FAST:
- F — Face: Is one side of the face drooping?
- A — Arm: Is one arm weak or numb?
- S — Speech: Is speech strange or difficult?
- T — Time: Call emergency services immediately if these signs appear.
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, it may be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “mini-stroke,” which can be a warning sign of a future stroke. Seek urgent medical evaluation.
