A stroke often feels sudden and can include a variety of symptoms that affect the body and mind. Common sensations and signs during a stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the face, arm, or leg. This may feel like the limb or side of the face is limp or "falling asleep"
- Facial drooping or heaviness, making the smile appear uneven
- Difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or trouble understanding others. Words may come out jumbled or it may feel like the mouth isn't moving properly
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance, feeling like the room is spinning or stumbling without reason
- Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, loss of coordination, or severe headache with no known cause
- Some people may experience intense sweating, confusion, or loss of control over bodily functions like bladder control
A stroke can feel different for each person depending on the area of the brain affected and the severity. Some people may feel fear, confusion, or panic due to the sudden loss of control over speech or movement, while others may not feel pain at all unless there is a severe headache
. Because stroke symptoms come on suddenly and require immediate medical attention, recognizing these feelings quickly and calling emergency services is critical
. In summary, a stroke often feels like a sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, vision problems, and sometimes severe headache or dizziness. These symptoms can be frightening and disabling, and prompt action can save lives and reduce brain damage
