A month before a stroke, your body warns you: 10 signs not to ignore

 

  • New, severe headaches (especially if you don’t usually get them) can signal a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain).
  • Worsening with time, vomiting, or changes in vision = urgent evaluation.

👁️ 3. Sudden Vision Changes

  • Blurred, double, or loss of vision in one or both eyes—often described as a “shade coming down.”
  • May last seconds or minutes—but never ignore it.

🗣️ 4. Slurred Speech or Confusion

  • Difficulty finding words, saying odd things, or trouble understanding others.
  • Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence—if it’s off, act fast.

💊 5. Numbness or Weakness (Even Mild)

  • Numbness, tingling, or clumsiness in the face, arm, or leg—especially on one side.
  • May come and go—but each episode increases risk.

🤢 6. Dizziness, Loss of Balance, or Coordination

  • Feeling off-balance, stumbling, or vertigo that’s not related to standing up too fast.
  • Often paired with nausea or trouble walking.

🧠 7. Memory Lapses or Mental Fog

  • Forgetting familiar names, getting lost in your neighborhood, or sudden confusion.
  • If it’s new and unexplained, it could signal reduced blood flow to the brain.

😴 8. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or Fatigue

  • Unusual tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest—linked in studies to impending stroke in high-risk adults.

❤️ 9. Irregular Heartbeat (Atrial Fibrillation)

  • Fluttering, racing, or skipped heartbeats—AFib raises stroke risk 5-fold due to blood clots forming in the heart.
  • Get it checked—even if you feel fine.

🤒 10. Hiccups That Won’t Stop (in women especially)

  • Persistent, uncontrollable hiccups—sometimes paired with nausea or chest pain—can be a less-known sign of brainstem stroke, more common in women.

✅ What to Do If You Notice These Signs

  • Don’t wait—call emergency services immediately for any sudden neurological symptom (use FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911).
  • For milder or recurring signs: See a doctor within 24 hours. Request a stroke risk assessment (blood pressure, carotid ultrasound, ECG).
  • Control risk factors: Manage blood pressure, quit smoking, treat diabetes, and stay active.