Recognizing a stroke quickly is critical because treatment is most effective when started as soon as possible. If you think someone is having a stroke, call your local emergency services immediately—don’t wait to see if the symptoms improve.
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 droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile.
- Difficulty speaking
- Slurred speech, trouble finding words, or difficulty understanding others.
- Sudden confusion
- Difficulty understanding simple conversations or following instructions.
- Vision changes
- Sudden blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Trouble walking
- Loss of balance, dizziness, or poor coordination.
- Severe headache
- A sudden, intense headache with no known cause, especially if accompanied by other symptoms.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sudden trouble swallowing or choking unexpectedly.
- Sudden numbness or tingling
- Particularly if it’s confined to one side of the body.
- Sudden loss of consciousness or extreme drowsiness
- Less common, but can occur with some strokes.
Remember the acronym FAST
- 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: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is the speech slurred or unusual?
- T – Time: If you notice any of these signs, call emergency services immediately.
Why acting quickly matters
Some strokes can be treated with clot-dissolving medication or procedures to remove a clot, but these treatments are only suitable within specific time windows and for certain types of stroke. Getting to the hospital quickly can greatly improve the chances of recovery.
Even if symptoms disappear after a few minutes, it could be a transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a “mini-stroke,” which is a warning sign that requires urgent medical evaluation.
