Health & Wellness: Warning Signs: Stroke

Lookout for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else may be having a stroke. Take notice when the signs and symptoms begin, because the period they have been present may guide your treatment decisions.

Trouble with speaking and understanding. You may experience confusion. You may slur your words or have difficulty understanding speech.

Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience unexpected dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.

Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg. You may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg, especially on one side of your body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Similarly, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.

Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes. You may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes, or you may experience double vision.

Headache. A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate you're having a stroke.

When to seek medical attention

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear.

Think "FAST" and do the following:

Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face sag?
Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Don't wait to see if symptoms go away. Every second counts.

Remember that the longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. To maximize the effectiveness of evaluation and treatment, you'll need to be treated at a hospital within three hours after your first symptoms appeared.

If you're attending someone you suspect is having a stroke, watch the person carefully while waiting for emergency assistance.