A Month Before a Stroke, Your Body May Warn You: 10 Signs Not to Ignore
The idea that your body always gives a clear warning one month before a stroke is not accurate. Many strokes happen suddenly, but some people experience warning symptoms called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or other signs that can occur hours, days, or sometimes longer before a stroke.
A TIA (“mini-stroke”) happens when blood flow to part of the brain is briefly blocked. Symptoms may disappear quickly, but it is still a medical emergency because it can be a warning sign of a future stroke.
10 possible warning signs that should be taken seriously
- 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 look uneven when smiling.
- Speech problems
- Trouble speaking, slurred speech, or difficulty understanding words.
- Sudden vision changes
- Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden severe dizziness or loss of balance
- Especially if it comes with difficulty walking or coordination problems.
- A sudden, unusual severe headache
- Particularly if it is unlike previous headaches and occurs with other neurological symptoms.
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
- Sudden difficulty understanding surroundings or following conversations.
- Difficulty swallowing
- New problems swallowing can sometimes occur with neurological changes.
- Temporary episodes of neurological symptoms
- Symptoms that come and go should not be ignored, even if they disappear.
- New or worsening risk factors
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat (such as atrial fibrillation), smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol increase stroke risk.
Remember the FAST warning signs
F — Face: Does one side of the face droop?
A — Arms: Is one arm weak or numb?
S — Speech: Is speech strange or difficult?
T — Time: Call emergency services immediately if these occur.
