Knowing the early warning signs of a stroke can help someone get treatment quickly. A stroke is a medical emergency—the faster a person receives care, the better the chances of limiting brain damage.
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.
- Speech problems
- Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding others.
- Sudden confusion
- A person may become disoriented or unable to follow a conversation.
- Sudden vision changes
- Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble walking, poor coordination, or feeling unusually unsteady.
- Sudden severe headache
- A very intense headache that appears without a known cause may be a warning sign, especially with other symptoms.
- Difficulty swallowing
- New trouble moving food or liquids from the mouth to the throat.
- Sudden numbness or tingling
- Unusual sensations, especially affecting one side of the body.
- Loss of consciousness or sudden extreme weakness
- Fainting, reduced alertness, or inability to move normally.
Remember FAST:
- F — Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
- A — Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift down?
- S — Speech: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is speech unclear?
- T — Time: Call emergency services immediately if any signs appear.
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, it may be a transient ischemic attack (TIA or “mini-stroke”) and still requires urgent medical evaluation.
