Stroke warning signs

Stroke warning signs
Stroke emails

Stroke is a medical emergency. Recognizing and responding immediately to the warning signs of stroke by calling 9-1-1 or your local emergency number can significantly improve survival and recovery. If a person is diagnosed with a stroke caused by a blood clot, doctors can administer a clot-busting drug available only at a hospital, and only within a few crucial hours after symptoms begin.* That’s why it is very important to be able to recognize the 5 warning signs of stroke and immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

The five signs

Stroke can be treated. That's why it is so important to recognize and respond to the warning signs.

Weakness - Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.

Trouble speaking - Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.

Vision problems - Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.

Headache - Sudden severe and unusual headache.

Dizziness - Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.

If you experience any of these symptoms, CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.

*Health Canada has approved the clot-busting drug called tPA to be used within 3 hours from the time symptoms begin. However, emerging science is now showing that tPA could be effective up to 4 ½ hours afterward. As a result, the Canadian Stroke Strategy has issued new Canadian Best Practices Recommendations for Stroke Care, which have included this new treatment time. Still, it will be up to the attending emergency doctors to determine when tPA may be administered or if it is appropriate to the situation.

For more information on stroke warning signs, please read our brochure Emergency signs and actions - for life and Emergency wallet card for heart attacks and strokes.

The website known as strokebestpractices.ca has A Patient’s Guide to Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Stroke Care to help you and your caregivers to learn more about stroke care, whether in the emergency room, during rehabilitation or back in the community.

Stroke emails

You may receive emails from well-meaning family and friends that claim to have authentic information about the signs and symptoms of heart attack or stroke. These messages usually contain incorrect information. Some may include a catchy phrase of signs to look for or certain activities to perform in order to prevent a heart attack or stroke. These messages only serve to confuse or cause delay in seeking help.

A heart attack or stroke is a very serious event that requires immediate medical attention. If you, or a loved one, suffer such an event, it is important to know the correct warning signs and how to act in order to get the best treatment available as early as possible.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation urges you not to circulate emails of this nature to your family and friends. Instead, become familiar with, and share the correct warning signs on our website at www.heartandstroke.ca/HeartSigns or www.heartandstroke.ca/StrokeSigns. Knowing these signs and calling 9-1-1, or your local emergency number immediately, is the most important thing you can do.