Symptoms of a stroke : London Health

Symptoms of a stroke usually come on suddenly and a huge amount of damage can be done in a very short space of time so it is important to be able to recognise the signs of a stroke. Each minute, over a million brain cells are damaged during a stroke so fast treatment is essential. The sings to look out for are listed below,

1. Face: has the face fallen to one side, can the person smile and have their eyes or mouth dropped at all?
2. Arms: can the person raise their arms or move both arms? Numbness caused by a stroke prevents some people from being able to lift up their arms.
3. Speech: can the person talk properly, is their speech slurred or have they lost the power of speech?
4. Time: if these symptoms are present it’s time to call 999 and wait for emergency help

The FAST template applies to 9 out of 10 strokes; additional symptoms may also include:

• Speech difficulties
• Severe headaches
• Dizziness
• Lack of balance and coordination
• Numbness and tingling sensations
• Loss of consciousness (this is rare)

Guide to Stroke

Stroke Intro

Coping after stroke

Effects of stroke

Preventing a stroke

Recovering from a stroke

Symptoms of stroke

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Treatment for stroke