Symptoms appear suddenly and mimic those of a stroke. Use the F.A.S.T. acronym from the American Stroke Association to remember them:
- Face drooping — Does one side of your face feel numb or look uneven when you smile?
- Arm weakness — Try raising both arms; does one drift downward or feel weak?
- Speech difficulty — Is your speech slurred, or do you struggle to understand others?
- Time to call emergency services — Even if symptoms disappear quickly, seek help right away.
Other signs can include:
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple things
- Vision changes, like blurred or double vision in one or both eyes
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- A severe headache with no clear cause
These episodes are brief, but don’t let that fool you. Research shows prompt medical evaluation after a TIA can dramatically change outcomes.
But that’s not all—many people overlook subtler clues because they resolve so fast.
