Stroke warning signs come on suddenly. Use the FAST check: Face, has one side drooped or can the person not smile evenly; Arms, can they raise both arms or does one drift down; Speech, is it slurred or garbled; Time, if any of these appear, call your local emergency number immediately. Other sudden signs include numbness on one side of the body, vision loss, severe unexplained headache, dizziness or loss of balance.
A stroke is caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain, and brain cells die quickly without treatment. Acting within the first hours dramatically improves recovery.
Do not drive yourself, do not wait to see if symptoms improve, and do not give food, drink or medicines. Call emergency services even if the symptoms go away, as a brief episode (a TIA or mini-stroke) is a serious warning of a possible larger stroke.