A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Women and men share most stroke symptoms, although some less common symptoms may occur more often in women.
7 Warning Signs of Stroke
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Especially on one side of the face, arm, or leg.
- Face drooping
- One side of the face may droop or feel numb, making it hard to smile evenly.
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Speech may become slurred, or the person may have trouble finding words or understanding others.
- Sudden vision changes
- Blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking
- Loss of balance, dizziness, or difficulty with coordination.
- Sudden severe headache
- A sudden, intense headache with no obvious cause, especially if it is unlike previous headaches.
- Less common symptoms that may occur in women
- Sudden confusion
- Fainting or loss of consciousness
- Nausea or vomiting without another clear cause
- Extreme weakness or unusual fatigue
Remember: FAST
A simple way to recognize many strokes is the FAST acronym:
- F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
- A – Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
- S – Speech: Is speech slurred or strange?
- T – Time: Call your local emergency services immediately if any of these signs are present.
Why acting quickly matters
Stroke treatments are often most effective when started as soon as possible, and every minute counts because brain tissue can be permanently damaged when blood flow is interrupted.
Seek emergency care immediately if someone has:
- Sudden one-sided weakness or numbness
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden vision loss
- Severe, unexplained headache
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, they could be a Transient ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”), which is a warning sign that a full stroke may occur soon and requires urgent medical evaluation.
