What are the signs of a stroke?

The signs of a stroke include sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, and weakness on one side of the body. These symptoms align with the FAST acronym used to help identify a stroke quickly: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call emergency services.

When a stroke occurs, it disrupts blood flow to a part of the brain, which can lead to damage and result in these specific symptoms. Sudden confusion can manifest as trouble understanding or forming words, which makes communication challenging. The weakness on one side of the body is typically a result of the stroke affecting the areas of the brain that control motor function and coordination.

The other options, while they may present serious health issues, are not classic signs of a stroke. A severe headache could indicate a variety of issues, including a hemorrhagic stroke, but it is not a general sign of stroke by itself. Sudden nausea and vomiting may occur due to many conditions and do not specifically point to a stroke. Similarly, loss of coordination and blurred vision may also be symptoms of other medical emergencies but are not as universally recognized as the primary indicators of a stroke as the symptoms described in the selected answer.