The claim that “your body warns you one month before a stroke” is a popular headline, but strokes do not always give a month-long warning. Some people have warning signs before a stroke, especially with a transient ischemic attack (TIA, often called a mini-stroke), which can happen minutes to days before a major stroke and requires urgent medical attention.
Here are 10 signs that should not be ignored:
- 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
- Slurred speech, trouble finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
- Sudden vision changes
- Loss of vision, double vision, or blurred vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden severe headache
- Especially a “worst headache ever” that appears without a clear cause.
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble walking, coordination problems, or unexplained falls.
- Confusion or difficulty thinking
- Sudden trouble understanding what is happening or following a conversation.
- Difficulty swallowing
- New problems swallowing can occur with some strokes.
- Unusual fatigue or weakness
- A sudden, unexplained decline in energy or ability to perform normal activities can be a warning sign, though it is not specific to stroke.
- A TIA episode
- Stroke-like symptoms that disappear after a short time are still an emergency warning.
A simple way to remember the most urgent signs is FAST:
- F — Face: Is one side drooping?
- A — Arms: Can both arms be raised?
- S — Speech: Is speech strange or slurred?
- T — Time: Call emergency services immediately if these occur.
If someone has sudden stroke symptoms, do not wait to see if they improve—urgent medical evaluation can greatly affect treatment options and outcomes.
