Stroke Warning Signs and Why Every Minute Counts

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, happens when blood flow to part of your brain is blocked. Strokes can also happen if a blood vessel bursts. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells start to die within minutes. That’s why doctors often say, “Time is brain.” 

The faster you recognize the signs and get emergency care, the greater your chances of recovery and reduced long-term complications.

Strokes happen every 40 seconds in America, so knowing these warning signs is even more important.

Read on as our team of experts at Link Neuroscience Institute shares the most common (and not-so-common) stroke warning signs and why every second counts when it comes to getting stroke treatment.

Common stroke warning signs

The acronym FAST can be used to help quickly detect the most common signs of a stroke:

• Facial drooping (F)
• Arm weakness (A)
• Speech difficulty (S)
• Time to call 911 immediately (T)

While the FAST acronym can help you quickly assess for the most common symptoms (facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech troubles), it doesn’t account for all symptoms. 

That’s because strokes can look different from person to person. Here are more symptoms you should never ignore:

• Sudden numbness on one side of your body (face, arms, or legs)
• Sudden confusion
• Sudden trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden vision changes
• Sudden problems with walking or balance
• Sudden dizziness 
• Sudden, severe headache 

Many of these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, so how do you know if you’re dealing with a stroke or something less serious? The key word in this list is “sudden.” 

While you might have chronic headaches, for example, the warning sign is a headache that comes on suddenly and is severe. You might already have blurry vision from myopia, but it’s the sudden vision changes that are a red flag.

When in doubt, call 911.

Why every second counts

During a stroke, up to two million brain cells can die each minute without treatment. Quick action means doctors can use life-saving treatments, such as clot-busting medications or minimally invasive procedures to remove a clot. Some medicines need to be given within 3-4.5 hours of your first symptoms, although sooner is better.

The sooner blood flow is restored, the more brain function you can preserve. Delaying even 15–30 minutes can make a dramatic difference in long-term recovery.

What about silent strokes?

Not all strokes are obvious. Silent strokes occur when small areas of the brain are damaged without causing sudden, noticeable symptoms. In fact, for every person who has a noticeable stroke, 10 people have a silent stroke. 

These hidden strokes can add up and lead to memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and even dementia. 

Silent strokes are often discovered on brain scans done for other reasons. If you have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, it’s especially important to get regular checkups and address these conditions to lower your chances of having one.

Comprehensive stroke care in Camarillo, Santa Barbara, and Oxnard, California

At Link Neuroscience Institute, our specialists are here to support you with diagnosis, rapid treatment during a stroke, and long-term care for stroke recovery.

Once we determine the type of stroke you had and stabilize you, we create individualized treatment plans that may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and advanced neurological care to help restore independence and improve quality of life. 

Because recurrent strokes can be a problem — about 25% of people who have a stroke had a previous one —  we also focus on stroke prevention. 

Don’t wait if you suspect a stroke. Call 911 right away. For less urgent matters, call Link Neuroscience Institute in Camarillo, Santa Barbara, or Oxnard, California, or click here to schedule your appointment.