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Stroke Symptoms

Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona

Stroke is a treatable emergency.

The key to stoke recovery is to seek treatment at a qualified hospital—STROKE CENTER—immediately.

If you or someone you know is having one or more of the following symptoms, call 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Remember: "TIME IS BRAIN"

Rapid medical attention is critical!

Stroke Symptoms

TIA or "ministroke"

If one or more of the symptoms of stroke listed below lasts from a few minutes to several hours and then disappears completely, the episode is called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA is the single most important warning that a major stroke may occur.

About 5% of patients who experience a TIA and receive no treatment have a major stroke within two days, and 10% will have a major stroke within one month. TIA is the most serious warning of a stroke and should be evaluated immediately in an emergency department.

Sudden, severe headache that is often described by stroke patients as the "worst headache of my life."
Paralysis or weakness of the face, arm, hand, leg, or foot, usually on one side of the body. The face may appear crooked and speech may be slurred. The weak arm may feel heavy or clumsy. The leg may be unsteady or unable to bear weight.
Numbness and tingling can involve the face, arm and leg in various combinations, usually on just one side of the body. Either side of the body can be affected.
Loss of speech manifesting as the inability to say words or to name objects. Speech difficulties may be subtle or obvious. Stroke sufferers may experience slurred speech or a "heavy" tongue. They may experience a complete loss of speech, or they may speak words or sounds that make no sense. They may also be unable to understand what others are saying.
Vision problems caused by a stroke may include dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes, or double vision.
Dizziness or vertigo causes a whirling sensation similar to the sensation of being on a merry-go-round.
Loss of consciousness, whether for seconds or minutes, is an important symptom of stroke (or heart disease) that should never be ignored. Medical attention should be sought on an emergency basis.