A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Quick action can save life and reduce permanent damage.
A simple way to remember key signs is FAST, plus a few additional warning symptoms:
1. Face drooping
One side of the face may droop or feel numb. The smile may look uneven.
2. Arm weakness
One arm may feel weak or drift downward when both arms are raised.
3. Speech difficulty
Speech may become slurred, confused, or hard to understand.
4. Time to act
If any of these appear, emergency help is needed immediately.
Other early warning signs of a stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side)
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding speech
- Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes (blurred or lost vision)
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause (often described as “worst headache”)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sudden loss of coordination or clumsiness
Important note
These symptoms usually appear suddenly, not gradually over days.
A stroke (Stroke) is time-critical. Even if symptoms go away after a few minutes (a possible TIA or “mini-stroke”), it still requires urgent medical evaluation because it can be a warning sign of a larger stroke.
What to do if you suspect a stroke
- Call emergency services immediately (don’t wait)
- Note the time symptoms started
- Do not give food or drink
- Keep the person safe and lying down
If you want, I can also explain how to tell stroke vs. low blood sugar vs. anxiety attacks, since they can sometimes look similar.
