A stroke can happen suddenly, but many strokes are preventable, and recognizing the warning signs early can make a major difference.
Know the warning signs: FAST
- F – Face: One side of the face droops or feels numb.
- A – Arms: One arm is weak or numb and drifts downward when raised.
- S – Speech: Speech is slurred, difficult to understand, or hard to produce.
- T – Time: Call your local emergency services immediately if any of these signs appear—even if they go away.
Other possible symptoms include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance.
- A sudden, severe headache with no obvious cause.
Habits that help lower stroke risk
- Keep blood pressure under control.
- Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Manage conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and irregular heart rhythms if you have them.
- Limit alcohol and avoid illicit drugs.
- Take prescribed medications as directed.
About a “quiet stroke”
The term “quiet” or “silent stroke” usually refers to a small stroke that may not cause obvious symptoms but still damages brain tissue. These are often discovered on brain imaging done for another reason. They can increase the risk of future strokes and problems with memory or thinking.
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke right now, don’t wait to see if it improves. Seek emergency medical care immediately. Prompt treatment can significantly improve the chances of recovery.
