A stroke can happen suddenly, and recognising the warning signs quickly can make a major difference. The condition occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Because brain damage can develop quickly, anyone experiencing possible stroke symptoms should receive emergency medical attention immediately.
Here are five major warning signs everyone should know...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
1. Sudden weakness or numbness
One of the most common warning signs is sudden weakness or numbness, particularly on one side of the body.
It may affect the face, arm or leg. A person may suddenly find that one arm feels weak or that one side of the face appears to droop.
2. Difficulty speaking or understanding
A person experiencing a stroke may suddenly have trouble speaking clearly, finding the right words or understanding what others are saying.
Their speech may become slurred or unusual, even if they appear to be awake and aware.
3. Sudden vision problems
Stroke can cause sudden changes in vision, including blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
Because sudden vision problems can have several causes, they should not be ignored, particularly when they occur alongside other possible stroke symptoms.
4. Dizziness, loss of balance or difficulty walking
Sudden dizziness, difficulty walking, loss of coordination or problems maintaining balance can also be signs of a stroke.
Someone who suddenly becomes unsteady or struggles to walk normally should receive urgent medical attention.
5. A sudden, severe headache
A sudden and unusually severe headache with no known cause can be another warning sign, particularly when it occurs alongside other symptoms such as weakness, confusion, vision problems or difficulty speaking.
Remember FAST
One simple way to recognise some of the most important stroke symptoms is FAST:
F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A – Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred or unusual?
T – Time: If any of these signs appear suddenly, seek emergency medical help immediately.
B.E. FAST is another useful checklist that adds balance and vision changes to the warning signs.
Do not wait for the symptoms to disappear
Some stroke-like symptoms can disappear after a short period. This can happen with a transient ischemic attack TIA, sometimes called a mini-stroke.
Even when symptoms disappear, urgent medical assessment is still important because a TIA can be a warning of a future stroke.
If you or someone around you suddenly develops signs of a stroke, do not wait to see whether the symptoms improve. Seek emergency medical care immediately and note the time the symptoms began, as this information can help healthcare professionals determine appropriate treatment.
