What does a stroke feel like?

Stroke is the fourth top cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., according to the American Stroke Association. Given its prevalence, you may wonder what it feels like to have a stroke so you can identify it as early as possible.

What is a stroke?

Strokes occur when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or ruptures. But a stroke’s symptoms aren’t associated with pain, which may cause you to disregard the symptoms as something serious. A characteristic that all stroke symptoms have is that they begin suddenly and are severe.

“Timely recognition of a stroke is important to allow for possible interventions,” says Megan Heppe, a critical care nurse practitioner at Aurora Health Care. “Early detection and quickly getting to the hospital is important. We have a saying that ‘time is brain,’ which means nervous system tissue is rapidly lost as the stroke progresses.”

What are classic stroke symptoms?

• Problems with speech or comprehension
• Numbness or drooping on one side of the face
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Difficulty walking or balancing
• Vision problems
• A sharp or severe headache
• Dizziness
• Trouble swallowing

How to know if someone is experiencing a stroke

The National Stroke Association has an easy strategy to assess if someone is experiencing a stroke. Just remember “B.E. F.A.S.T”:

• Balance – Is the person having trouble with balance or coordination?
• Eyes – Is the person having trouble seeing?
• FACE – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward.
• SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• TIME – If you observe any of these symptoms, it’s time to call 911 immediately.

Want to learn more about your risk for stroke? Take a free online quiz.