Health library

Signs of a stroke

The signs of a stroke often appear suddenly—and they require fast action. Keep scrolling to learn more about important stroke warning signs and how to spot them.

F: Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop? Is it numb?

How to check: Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven?

A: Arm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb?

How to check: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S: Speech difficulty. Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand?

How to check: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.” Can he or she repeat it correctly?

T: Time to call 911. If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 immediately—even if the signs go away. Make sure to note the time when the first symptoms appeared.

OTHER POSSIBLE SIGNS OF A STROKE

• Severe headache with no known cause.
• Sudden numbness or weakness of a leg.
• Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 right away.

TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT A STROKE

Learning your stroke risk factors can help you understand what changes you need to make to protect your health.

Learn your risk