Signs and symptoms of stroke

Early recognition is key to seeking out emergency care.

stroke scan
Young girl concerned about grandma

Know the signs and symptoms

A stroke is an interruption in the blood flow to our brain from either a clot or a break in the blood vessel. It is critical for someone who is experiencing signs or symptoms of a stroke to be transported to the hospital by trained medical personnel immediately. Early recognition is key, and a stroke is a medical emergency. Treatment options depend on the type, source and location of the stroke.

Signs & Symptoms 

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body 
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech (slurred speech, word finding difficulty)
  • Sudden double vision, blurry vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes 
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache without a known cause, especially associated with nausea or vomiting 


How do I know if I'm having a stroke?

Here at St. John's we want everyone to be informed about the symptoms of a stroke. Signs of a stroke include: loss of balance, weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, headache and upset stomach. In this video, a stroke survivor shares his story.

BEFAST graphic

BE FAST

Use the BE FAST acronym to remember stroke warning signs. If you notice or experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. 

B - Balance - sudden loss of balance or sudden on-set of dizziness

E - Eyes - sudden change of vision in one or both eyes

F - Face - sudden numbness or drooping on one side of the face

A - Arms - sudden numbness or weakness of an arm or leg

S - Speech - sudden difficulty or slurring of speech

T - Terrible headache - sudden terrible or "thunderclap" headache with no known cause


Call 911 if any of these symptoms occur.

Know your risk factors

Risk factors such as age, genetics, gender and race cannot be controlled. However, there are several risk factors that you can control. If your health care provider has already identified that you have any of these risk factors, it is very important to create a plan to help reduce your risk of stroke.

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Alcohol consumption and illegal drug use
  • Stress
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • Inactivity
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Abnormal cholesterol
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Carotid artery disease
  • Peripheral vascular disease