Symptoms of a stroke can include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Drooping of one side of the face
- Difficulty or inability to raise one or both arms
- Slurred or confused speech, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden confusion or memory loss
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, blurred or double vision
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
- Severe headache with no known cause, sometimes with nausea or vomiting
- Difficulty walking or sudden falls
- Difficulty swallowing
The most recognized way to remember key stroke symptoms is the FAST acronym:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to call emergency services immediately
Even if symptoms stop briefly, urgent medical attention is necessary as this can be a warning sign of a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
