Recognizing a stroke quickly can save brain tissue and improve the chances of recovery. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, call your local emergency medical services immediately—don’t wait to see if the symptoms go away.
Here are 10 warning signs to know:
- Sudden face drooping – One side of the face may droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile.
- Sudden arm weakness or numbness – One arm may drift downward when both arms are raised.
- Sudden speech difficulty – Slurred speech, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding others.
- Sudden confusion – Trouble understanding simple instructions or communicating.
- Sudden vision problems – Blurred, double, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking – Loss of balance, dizziness, or poor coordination.
- Sudden severe headache – Especially if it is the worst headache of your life and has no obvious cause.
- Sudden numbness – Particularly on one side of the body, affecting the face, arm, or leg.
- Difficulty swallowing – A sudden onset of trouble swallowing may occur with some strokes.
- Sudden loss of consciousness or extreme drowsiness – This can occur in more severe strokes.
A simple way to remember the most common signs is FAST:
- F – Face drooping
- A – Arm weakness
- S – Speech difficulty
- T – Time to call emergency services immediately
Risk factors include High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, Atrial Fibrillation, obesity, and physical inactivity.
Even if symptoms disappear within minutes, they could be a Transient Ischemic Attack (“mini-stroke”), which is a medical emergency because it can be a warning that a larger stroke may soon follow.
The key point is that any sudden neurological symptom should be treated as an emergency. Prompt treatment can significantly improve outcomes.
