Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

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Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in America. It’s also a major cause of severe, long-term disability. Stroke and TIA (transient ischemic attack) happen when a blood vessel feeding the brain gets clogged or bursts. The signs of a TIA are like a stroke, but usually last only a few minutes. If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help.

Call 9-1-1 to get help fast if you have any of these, but remember that not all of these warning signs occur in every stroke.

Signs of Stroke and TIAs

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or 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.

Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. Research from the American Heart Association has shown that if given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

If You Recognize Any One Of These Symptoms
Act Fast By Following These F.A.S.T Steps:

  1. “F” stands for FACE. Ask the person to smile. IF the face is droopy on one side, it may be a sign of possible stroke. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
  2. “A” stands for ARM. Ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts down, or has no resistance to it, it may be a sign of possible stroke. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
  3. “S” stands for SPEECH. As the person to say a simple phrase. For example, “the grass is green.” If their speech is slurred or you have trouble understanding them, it may be a sign of possible stroke. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!
  4. “T” stands for TIME. For the best possible outcome, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MUST OCCUR WITHIN 3 HOURS OF SYMPTOM(S) ONSET. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!

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