Spotting the Signs of a Stroke It could be crucial

September 18, 2026

Understand when someone or you may be having a stroke

A stroke doesn’t always look dramatic, so understanding when someone is having a stroke is crucial.

Someone may simply start speaking strangely, suddenly become unsteady or complain that they can’t see properly. They may even insist they’re fine.

But when it comes to stroke, every minute matters. The sooner someone receives medical treatment, the better their chances of limiting damage to the brain.

Here are seven warning signs everyone should know.

1. One side of the face suddenly droops

Ask the person to smile.

Does their smile look uneven? Has one side of their mouth or face suddenly dropped?

This is one of the classic signs of stroke.

Don’t wait to see if it improves — call 999.

2. One arm suddenly becomes weak or numb

Ask the person to raise both arms and keep them there.

If they can’t lift one arm, it feels suddenly weak or numb, or one arm starts drifting downwards, this could indicate a stroke.

Weakness or numbness can also affect a leg or an entire side of the body.

3. Their speech suddenly changes

Listen for speech that has suddenly become:

Slurred, confused, muddled or difficult to understand.

The person may also have trouble understanding what you’re saying or struggle to find ordinary words.

Don’t assume they’re simply tired or confused because they’re older.

A sudden change in speech needs urgent attention.

4. Their eyesight suddenly changes

A stroke can cause sudden:

Blurred vision, double vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes.

Someone might describe a curtain or shadow coming across their vision or suddenly find that part of what they can normally see has disappeared.

Sudden visual changes shouldn’t be ignored.

5. They suddenly become dizzy or lose their balance

Someone who was walking normally may suddenly become extremely unsteady, dizzy or unable to coordinate their movements.

They may stumble or fall for no apparent reason.

There are many possible causes of dizziness, but when it appears suddenly, particularly alongside another symptom on this list, stroke needs to be considered.

6. A sudden, extremely severe headache

A severe headache that appears very suddenly — particularly one unlike the person’s usual headaches — can sometimes be associated with bleeding in or around the brain.

It may be accompanied by vomiting, confusion, problems with vision, weakness or loss of consciousness.

A sudden, exceptionally severe headache requires urgent medical attention.

7. Sudden confusion

A person having a stroke may suddenly seem confused or disorientated.

They might struggle to understand a simple question, have difficulty remembering something they would normally know or appear unusually bewildered.

The important word here is sudden.

A noticeable and unexplained change in someone’s mental abilities shouldn’t simply be put down to getting older.

Here’s a simple guide.

If you live alone, this is what you should do if you are showing the signs of a stroke.

Read our article on How to Reduce the Risk of a Stroke