Stroke Awareness

Waiting to see if the symptoms go away is not an option.

The brain is under attack every second of a stroke. Your immediate action can have a lasting impact

Signs of Stroke

– Dizziness, weakness, trouble speaking, vision changes.

– Loss of balance, headache, confusion

– Difficulty understanding, numbness, trouble walking. 

What you see might feel different to someone having a stroke. Here is a description of what they may experience and what you may notice.

A SUDDEN ONSET of the following symptoms may indicate stroke*

SYMPTOMS A LOVED ONE MAY EXPERIENCE   

SIGNS YOU MAY NOTICE

LOSS OF BALANCE

Unstable with less coordination, stumbling, unable to walk straight.

Wobbling around, grabbing onto a stationary object, tripping over nothing

DIZZINESS

Feeling faint, lightheaded, or like the room is spinning.

Unsteady movements (like motion sickness), like they are drunk (without having any alcohol).

VISION CHANGES

Blurred vision or trouble with eyesight in one or both eyes

Squinting or rubbing their eyes, not able to read

FACIAL DROOPING

One side of the face is drooping or looks uneven.

Ask the person to smile and observe their face. See if the face droops on one side.

SEVERE HEADACHE

Pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck with no known cause

Touching their head, rubbing their temples, sensitivity to light

arm weakness and numbness.

WEAKNESS

Lack of strength in arm or leg—especially on one side of the body

Wanting to sit or lay down, difficulty doing simple tasks.

NUMBNESS

A tingling feeling in the body (i.e., face, arm, or leg), like pins and needles

Constant touching, massaging, or shaking of the numb areas.

speech difficulty

TROUBLE SPEAKING

Unable to speak or slurred speech.

Sentences that can’t be understood, difficulty having a conversation.

CONFUSION

Unable to understand what is happening, can’t think clearly or feel thrown off.

A puzzled look, raised or wrinkled eyebrows, shaking their head “no,” a hard time focusing, trouble making decisions.

TIME TO CALL 911

*Note that these symptoms or a combination of them are not unique to stroke, but if they are sudden and out of the ordinary, they may indicate a sign of stroke and require immediate attention.

Calling 911 and getting EMS care could have a lasting impact on a loved one.