Resources
Stanford Stroke Assessment Test
The Stanford Stroke Risk Assessment test gives you the ability to estimate your stroke risk in comparison to others in your age group.
Stroke Care: Signs and Symptoms
Learn This Life-Saving Information
Strokes can happen unexpectedly and every minute counts. Learning in advance how to recognize what's happening and what to do will make a difference.
Most strokes are caused by a blocked artery cutting off blood flow to the brain. This can lead to a loss of brain function. Swift diagnosis makes it possible to provide treatment options more quickly.
Stroke symptoms vary widely because strokes can occur in different areas of the brain. Plus, symptoms can suddenly appear — but not always. Don't ignore symptoms, even if they go away. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience:
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech (aphasia)
- Difficulty walking
- Dizziness, including vertigo
- Numbness, paralysis, or weakness, usually on one side of the body
- Seizure (relatively rare)
- Severe sudden headache with no known cause
- Slurred speech (dysarthria)
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden decrease in the level of consciousness
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden vision problems (e.g., blurry vision, visual loss in one side of vision or in one eye)