Warning signs: how to recognize them?
There are sudden, visible signs that should immediately alert you:
- Visual disturbances
Blurry vision, double vision, or sudden loss of vision in one eye. These disorders are often linked to damage to the areas of the brain responsible for vision.
- Confusion and difficulty understanding
The person no longer understands what is being said to them, does not recognize their surroundings, or seems disoriented. They may have difficulty formulating sentences.
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Loss of strength in one arm, one leg, or one entire side of the body. Facial asymmetry, such as a drooping mouth, is a very suggestive sign.
- Speech disorders
Difficulty speaking, incoherent sentences, incomprehensible words… If the person cannot repeat a simple sentence, you must act quickly.
- Dizziness, falls and severe headaches
Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or severe, unusual headaches may be signs of a stroke, particularly a hemorrhagic stroke.
What to do if in doubt? The FAST method
In France, emergency services use a simple mnemonic to help them react quickly:
- Face : Is one side of the face paralyzed or asymmetrical?
- Disability : Weakness in an arm or leg?
- Speech disorder : difficulty speaking or understanding?
- In an emergency : call 15 (SAMU) immediately .
Every second counts. The sooner treatment (such as thrombolysis, which dissolves clots) is administered, the better the chances of recovery. Ideally, the procedure should be performed within 4.5 hours of the first symptoms appearing.
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