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Warning Signs
- Sudden weakness, numbness, or paralysis of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden blurred or dimmed vision, especially in one eye; an episode of double vision
- Difficulty speaking or understanding even simple sentences
- Dizziness or loss of balance or coordination, especially when combined with another symptom
Less Common Symptoms
- Sudden, unexplained, and intense headache-often described as "the worst headache ever"
- Sudden nausea and fever-distinguished from a viral illness by the speed of onset (minutes or hours rather than several days)
- Brief loss of consciousness or a period of decreased awareness (fainting, confusion, convulsions, coma)
Do Not Ignore Symptoms
Dr. David Levine urges that when symptoms appear, the patient "go as quickly as possible to a hospital emergency ward. There is evidence that if a stroke is treated in the first few hours, the damage can be minimized."
Sometimes symptoms may appear for a very short period of time and then disappear. These episodes are known as TIAs, or transient ischemic attacks. Do not ignore them, as they may indicate serious stroke risks, and a full stroke may follow. A doctor can treat the causes and help reduce the risk of a future stroke.
Adapted from guidelines provided by the National Stroke Association, Englewood, Colorado, U.S.A.
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