10 early warning signs of a stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms typically begin suddenly, and treatment works best when started as quickly as possible.
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www.stroke.org
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Sudden weakness or numbness — especially on one side of the face, arm, or leg.
One side of the face drooping — an uneven smile can be a warning sign.
Sudden difficulty speaking — slurred, strange, or unclear speech.
Difficulty understanding speech — suddenly struggling to understand what others are saying.
Sudden vision changes — blurred, double, or lost vision in one or both eyes.
Sudden loss of balance or coordination — trouble walking, dizziness, or stumbling.
Sudden severe headache — particularly a severe headache with no known cause.
Sudden confusion — becoming unexpectedly disoriented or unable to think clearly.
Sudden difficulty moving one side of the body — for example, an arm drifting downward when both arms are raised.
Sudden difficulty performing a familiar task — particularly when it occurs together with weakness, confusion, speech, vision, or coordination problems.
Remember B.E. F.A.S.T.
B — Balance: sudden loss of balance or coordination
E — Eyes: sudden vision changes
F — Face: facial drooping
A — Arm: arm weakness or numbness
S — Speech: speech difficulty
T — Time: call emergency services immediately
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www.stroke.org
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Do not wait to see whether symptoms improve. Even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they could represent a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which also requires urgent medical assessment. Note the time the symptoms started because this can be important for treatment decisions.
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www.stroke.org
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If someone is having these symptoms right now, seek emergency medical care immediately rather than continuing to read or trying a home remedy.
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