Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

The Pennsylvania Medical Society urges patients to be aware of these typical stroke symptoms:

1. Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
2. Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including the face
3. Difficulty speaking
4. Disorientation, confusion, or memory loss
5. Dizziness, loss of balance, or loss of coordination
6. Severe headache that comes on suddenly with no apparent cause

If you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to perform three simple actions:

1. Ask the person to smile
2. Ask the person to raise both arms above his or her head
3. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence

If the person has any problems completing these steps, call 911 immediately and describe these symptoms.