Stroke Signs & Symptoms

Knowledge is powerful, and knowing Stroke risk factors, as well as the signs and symptoms of a Stroke, gives you the ability to make the right decision if you or a loved one has a Stroke.

Learn the Stroke warning signs and treat them as a medical emergency by calling 911.

Treating Stroke as an emergency can help save lives and improve health outcomes. The warning signs of Stroke are:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you suspect someone is having a Stroke, act F.A.S.T.

Face: Ask him or her to smile. (Does one side of the face droop?)

Arms: Ask him or her to raise both arms. (Does one arm drift downward?)

Speech: Ask him or her to repeat a simple sentence. (Are the words slurred? Can he or she repeat the sentence correctly?)

Time: If the person has difficulty with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately! Time is important because brain cells are dying.

 
 

If you or a loved one are experiencing Stroke symptoms, call 911 and get to the hospital IMMEDIATELY! Treatments are available that may dramatically reduce a Stroke’s devastating effects—but they must be provided within a few hours of the onset of a Stroke.