Signs of stroke
Question one - I think I may have had a stroke. What should I do?
The symptoms of stroke or Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) include:
- sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
- sudden loss or blurring of vision
- sudden difficulty speaking or understanding spoken language.
A suspected stroke should always be treated as a medical emergency, as outlined in our FAST campaign. If you or anyone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of stroke call 999.
Our leaflet When a stroke happens tells you what happens when you do get to a hospital specialist stroke service quickly.
Question two - My Dad had a funny turn, with symptoms that resembled a stroke, but it only lasted a few minutes. He says not to worry, as he feels much better now. Should I be concerned?
If symptoms of stroke only last a few minutes or a few hours, then a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) may have occurred. A TIA is sometimes called a mini-stroke and is similar to a full stroke, but symptoms will have completely gone away within 24 hours.
Don't ignore a suspected TIA - it is a warning sign that there may be a risk of a more major stroke in the near future. A TIA should be treated as an emergency.
Do not delay. You should seek urgent medical attention from your father's GP or, if not possible, then at an Accident and Emergency Department. A doctor will begin treatment with daily aspirin immediately in the majority of cases. The doctor should also assess his risk of a more major stroke in the near future:
- If this risk is high, your father should be seen by a stroke specialist and receive an MRI brain scan within 24 hours of symptom onset.
- If this risk is low, he should still be seen by a stroke specialist within one week of the TIA and receive an MRI scan within that time.
