Signs and symptoms of a stroke in both men and women include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your face or in one arm or leg
- Loss of vision, strength, coordination, sensation, or speech, or trouble understanding speech. These symptoms may get worse over time.
- Sudden dim vision, especially in one eye
- Sudden loss of balance, sometimes along with vomiting, nausea, fever, hiccups, or trouble Sudden and severe headache with no other cause, followed quickly by passing out
- Fainting briefly
- Dizziness or sudden falls with no clear cause
FAST Stroke Recognition
Experts use the acronym FAST to remind people how to recognize the signs of a stroke and what to do. FAST stands for:
- Face. Tell the person to smile. Watch to see if their face droops.
- Arms. Have the person raise both their arms. Watch to see if one is weak or sags.
- Speech. Ask the person to say a simple phrase. Listen for slurred or strange-sounding words.
- Time. Every minute counts.
