Stroke Symptoms: What to Watch For and How to Act Fast

When someone has a stroke, a sudden interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. Also known as a cerebrovascular accident, it happens fast—and every minute counts. A stroke isn’t just a brain attack; it’s a race against time. The longer the brain goes without oxygen, the more damage occurs. That’s why knowing the stroke symptoms isn’t just helpful—it’s life-saving.

Most strokes come from blocked arteries (ischemic) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic), but the signs are often the same. You don’t need to be a doctor to spot them. The FAST test, a simple way to recognize stroke signs quickly works for almost everyone: Face drooping? Arm weakness? Speech difficulty? Time to call emergency services. If any of these happen, even if they go away, act now. That’s because a transient ischemic attack, a temporary blockage that mimics stroke symptoms is a major warning sign. About 1 in 3 people who have a TIA will have a full stroke within a year if they don’t get help.

Other signs you can’t ignore: sudden confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, a severe headache with no known cause, or dizziness that comes with loss of balance. These aren’t normal aging issues. They’re red flags. And they’re not rare. Over 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year. Half of them are under 70. You can’t always prevent a stroke, but you can reduce your risk by managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking, staying active, and watching your cholesterol. The posts below cover real cases, medication risks that increase stroke chances, and how drugs like dabigatran help prevent it—especially for people with atrial fibrillation. You’ll also find advice on what to do after a stroke, how to avoid dangerous drug interactions that raise your risk, and why some medications can quietly increase your chances of brain damage. This isn’t theory. It’s what people are using right now to protect themselves and their families.