Recognizing a stroke quickly is critical because treatment is most effective when started as soon as possible.
Here are 10 warning signs that can indicate a stroke:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg—especially on one side of the body.
- Face drooping—one side of the face sags or feels numb.
- Arm weakness—difficulty lifting or keeping one arm raised.
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding others.
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding language.
- Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes, such as blurred, double, or lost vision.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
- A sudden, severe headache with no known cause, especially if it’s the worst headache you’ve ever had.
- Difficulty swallowing that begins suddenly.
- Sudden loss of consciousness or fainting, although this is less common.
A simple way to remember the most important signs is BE FAST:
- Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- Eyes: Sudden vision changes.
- Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
- Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
- Speech: Is their speech slurred or strange?
- Time: Call your local emergency services immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve.
Even if symptoms last only a few minutes and then go away, it could be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “mini-stroke.” A TIA is a medical emergency because it can be a warning that a full stroke may occur soon.
Prompt medical care can significantly improve the chances of recovery, so any sudden stroke symptoms should be treated as an emergency.
