A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Early recognition is critical—treatment works best within minutes to hours.
Here are the key warning signs to watch for:
🚨 FAST warning signs (most important)
Think F.A.S.T.
F — Face drooping
- One side of the face becomes weak or numb
- Smile looks uneven or lopsided
A — Arm weakness
- One arm feels weak or drifts downward when both are raised
- Sudden numbness or inability to lift an arm
S — Speech difficulty
- Slurred speech
- Trouble speaking or understanding words
T — Time to call emergency help
- If ANY of the above appear, seek urgent medical help immediately
⚠️ Other important stroke symptoms
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding
- Sudden vision loss or blurred vision (one or both eyes)
- Sudden severe headache with no clear cause
- Loss of balance, dizziness, or trouble walking
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
🧠 Important note
There are two main types of stroke:
- Ischemic stroke (blocked artery – most common)
- Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain)
Both require emergency treatment, but symptoms look similar.
⏱️ Why timing matters
Brain cells start dying within minutes. Quick treatment can:
- Reduce brain damage
- Improve recovery
- Save life
🚑 What to do if you suspect stroke
- Call emergency medical services immediately
- Do NOT wait for symptoms to improve
- Do NOT give food or drink
- Note the time symptoms started
