• Medical Author:
    Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM


  • Medical Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
    Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

    Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD


Stroke Symptoms and Signs

The symptoms of a stroke vary depending upon the area of the brain affected by a lack of oxygen. All strokes involve symptoms that relate to impairment of nerve function. The symptoms typically arise suddenly and most commonly occur on one side of the body. Symptoms and signs of stroke can include:

  • numbness,
  • weakness,
  • tingling, or
  • vision loss or changes.

Confusion, changes in the level of consciousness, trouble speaking, trouble understanding speech, vertigo, and balance problems are other common symptoms. Headache, nausea, and vomiting sometimes accompany a stroke, particularly when the stroke involves bleeding inside the brain.

Quick GuideStroke Causes, Symptoms, and Recovery

Stroke Causes, Symptoms, and Recovery

Stroke definition and facts

  • A stroke also is called a cerebrovascular accident, CVA, or "brain attack."
  • The types of strokes include:
    • Ischemic stroke (part of the brain loses blood flow)
    • Hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding occurs within the brain)
  • A stroke is a medical emergency. The affected individual, family, friends, or bystanders need to call 9-1-1 (activate EMS) to access emergency care.
  • Remember FAST if you think someone might be having a stroke:
    • Face drooping
    • Arm weakness
    • Speech difficulty
    • Time to call 9-1-1
  • Causes of strokes include ischemia (loss of blood supply) or hemorrhage (bleeding) in the brain occurs.
  • Stroke is diagnosed by the patient's symptoms, history, and blood and imaging tests.
  • The prognosis and recovery for a person that has suffered a stroke depends upon the location of the injury to the brain.

What is a stroke?



What is the NIH Stroke Scale?

Not all strokes affect the brain equally, and stroke symptoms and signs depend upon the part of the brain affected.

  • For example, most people’s speech center is located in the left half of the brain so a stroke affecting the left side of the brain would affect speech and comprehension. It also would be associated with weakness of the right side of the body.
  • A right brain stroke would make the left side of the body weak. And depending on where in the brain the injury occurred, the weakness could be the face, arm, leg or a combination of the three.

The NIH Stroke Scale tries to score how severe a stroke might be. It also monitors whether the person's stroke is improving or worsening as times passes as the patient is re-examined.

There are 11 categories that are scored and include whether the patient

  • is awake,
  • can follow commands,
  • can see,
  • can move their face, arms and legs,
  • has normal body sensations or feelings,
  • has speech difficulties, or
  • has coordination problems.

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Overall, the most common risk factors for stroke are:




Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 12/9/2016

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