How to Know if You Are Having a Stroke

Medically reviewed by Jonas DeMuro, MD

Last Updated: February 8, 2024 References

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and can cause life-long disabilities and complications.^{[1]
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Research source} It is considered a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately. Learn to recognize the signs of a stroke. Getting help immediately can ensure proper treatment and lessen your chance of disability.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Looking for Signs of a Stroke

1
Watch for signs that indicate a stroke. There are several tell-tale signs that someone is suffering from a stroke. These signs may include a sudden onset of:^{[2]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. One side of the face may drop when the person tries to smile.
- Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, slurring words.
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, blackened vision or seeing double.
- Severe headache, usually with no known cause and possibly with vomiting
- Trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination and dizziness
2
Keep an eye out for female-specific symptoms. In addition to the typical symptoms of stroke, women may also experience unique symptoms. These can include:^{[3]
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- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden behavior change or agitation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hiccups
- Hallucinations
3
Test for signs of a stroke using “FAST.” FAST is an abbreviation that is an easy way to remember and test for signs of a stroke.^{[4]
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- F- FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A- ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S- SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T- TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
4
Get immediate medical help. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 immediately. Every minute counts in a stroke. For every minute untreated, one can lose 1.9 million neurons, which reduces chances for successful recovery and increases chances of complications or death.^{[5]
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- In addition, there is a small treatment window for ischemic strokes, so it is important to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
- Some hospitals have stroke care facilities that are especially well-equipped to treat strokes. If you are at risk of having a stroke, then it might be beneficial to find out where these centers are located.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Knowing Your Risk Factors

1
Assess your health conditions. Strokes can happen to anyone, however some people are more likely to get them. Talk to your doctor about your increased risk for stroke due to these health conditions:^{[6]
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Mayo Clinic
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- Diabetes
- Heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation (a-fib) or stenosis
- Prior stroke or TIA
2
Take stock of your lifestyle habits. If you have a lifestyle that does not prioritize exercise and healthy eating, you may have an increased risk of stroke. Some of the lifestyle habits that might increase your risk include:^{[7]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
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- Being overweight or obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Heavy drinking or illicit drug use
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
3
Look into your genetics. There are certain unavoidable risks that you may be facing. These include:
- Your age: after 55 years old, your risk doubles for every decade
- Your ethnicity or race: African Americans, Hispanics and Asians have a higher risk of stroke
- Women have a slightly higher risk
- Your family history of stroke
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Determine if you have other risk factors because you’re a woman. There are other factors that can impact a woman’s risk of stroke. These include:^{[8]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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- Birth control pills: Oral contraceptives can increase stroke risk, especially when other risk factors are present such as smoking or having high blood pressure.
- Being pregnant: This increases blood pressure and stress on the heart.^{[9]
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- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Women often do hormone replacement therapy to relieve the symptoms of menopause.
- Migraines with aura: More women than men suffer from migraines, and migraines are associated with increased stroke risk.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Understanding What Strokes Are

A stroke happens when the blood supply to your brain, along with oxygen and nutrients, is blocked or reduced. This can cause your brain cells to start dying almost immediately.^{[10]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Prolonged deprivation of blood supply can cause extensive brain death and therefore long-term disability.
Most strokes fall into one of two categories: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic (iss-KEE-mick) stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks blood supply. Most (about 80%) of strokes are ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a rupture of a weakened blood vessel in the brain. This causes blood to leak out in the brain.^{[11]
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Mayo Clinic
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3
Learn about transient ischemic attacks. These types of strokes, also known as TIAs, are mini-strokes. This stroke is caused by a “temporary” blockage of the blood supply to the brain. For example, a small moving clot can block a vessel temporarily. Although the symptoms are the same as for a more severe stroke, they last for a shorter period of time, usually less than five minutes. The symptoms appear and disappear within 24 hours.^{[12]
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Mayo Clinic
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- However, you cannot tell whether you experienced a TIA or stroke only by timing and symptoms.
- It is crucial to get emergency care regardless, since having a TIA is an indication of a future probability of a stroke.
Disabilities after a stroke can range from problems moving (paralysis), problems thinking, speaking, memory loss etc. They can be mild to severe depending on how serious the stroke (size of clot, extent of brain damage) was and how long it took for the patient to receive treatment.^{[13]
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Warnings

Take note of the time when the symptom(s) started. The doctor will need to know this when treating the patient.

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Keep a cell phone handy or be near a phone. When a person experiences any one of the symptoms, call your local emergency number immediately.

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The person may only experience one of the symptoms of stroke. It is still vitally important to get immediate medical attention.

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