Yes—there are early warning signs of a stroke that can appear minutes to hours before a major event. Recognizing them quickly can save lives, because immediate treatment is critical.
Here are 4 common signals that may appear roughly 15 minutes before a stroke:
1. Sudden Numbness or Weakness
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Often affects one side of the body (face, arm, or leg).
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You might notice drooping facial muscles, difficulty lifting an arm, or weakness in a leg.
2. Confusion or Trouble Speaking
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Suddenly having trouble forming words, slurring speech, or difficulty understanding simple sentences.
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Friends or family may notice that you don’t make sense verbally.
3. Vision Changes
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Sudden blurred, double, or dim vision in one or both eyes.
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Sometimes loss of vision in part of the visual field occurs.
4. Sudden Severe Headache or Dizziness
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Intense, unexplained headache, often described as the worst ever.
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May be accompanied by dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination problems.
Additional Signs to Watch For
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Trouble walking
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Nausea or vomiting
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Sudden fatigue or confusion
Key Action: Act FAST
Remember FAST for stroke recognition:
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F – Face: Ask the person to smile—drooping?
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A – Arms: Can they raise both arms? Weakness?
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S – Speech: Slurred or strange speech?
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T – Time: Call emergency services immediately.
⚠️ Even mild or brief symptoms should be treated as an emergency. Quick medical intervention dramatically improves outcomes.
If you want, I can give a detailed, easy-to-remember checklist of subtle early stroke signs that often appear before the major event. This can help people recognize a stroke almost immediately.