A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bleeds. Fast treatment can greatly improve outcomes, so recognizing warning signs quickly is important.
10 possible 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.
- Ask the person to smile and check whether one side droops.
- Speech problems
- Slurred speech, difficulty finding words, or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden confusion
- A person may seem disoriented or unable to answer simple questions.
- 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 comes on rapidly with no known cause.
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble walking, coordination problems, or feeling unusually unsteady.
- Sudden trouble swallowing
- Difficulty controlling muscles involved in swallowing can occur.
- Sudden weakness affecting movement
- Difficulty lifting an arm, standing, or performing normal tasks.
- A sudden change in alertness or behavior
- Extreme sleepiness, fainting, or unusual confusion.
Remember FAST
- F — Face: Is one side drooping?
- A — Arms: Can the person raise both arms?
- S — Speech: Is speech strange or slurred?
- T — Time: Call emergency services immediately.
