A stroke remains the third leading cause of disabilities within the United States, the American Heart Association reports. People need to act upon any symptoms of a potential stroke immediately with emergency treatment. Medical procedures and medications can help decrease the possible damage to the brain and body from a stroke. The quicker the response, the more likely a full recovery can occur.
Numbness and Weakness
Numbness or weakness that occurs in the face, leg or arm on the body's left side or right side can mean a stroke will occur, the American Heart Association states. The symptoms will occur on the opposite side of the body where the trauma happens. Trauma that can cause strokes include clots blocking blood flow as well as burst blood vessels in the brain.
Difficulty Speaking
When the left side of the brain becomes affected, skills such as speech, understanding and perception become delayed, the American Heart Association indicates. The person may slur words when speaking or feel confused when trying to understand someone else speaking. Sudden confusion may occur in the person suffering the stroke.
Visual Difficulties
Visual difficulties occur with increased pressure in the brain. The person may complain he cannot see out of one or both of his eyes. This experience typically frightens the person, but may not immediately tell the person a stroke may occur. The person also may see flashes of light or "halos" around objects. This occurs because of pressure in the brain.
Sudden Severe Headache
People often describe this headache as the worst headache they have ever had, the National Institutes of Health indicates. The headache remains severe as other various stroke symptoms occur. The headache occurs with increased pressure on the brain because of bleeding or because of an interference such as a blocked pathway, the organization indicates.
Balance Problems
Problems with balance occur because of increased intracranial pressure, the National Institutes of Health reports. This may occur with bleeding in the brain or a blockage causing the symptoms of the stroke. The person may have difficulty walking and or moving the legs. He may have numbness on one side of his body causing the inability to coordinate his body to walk.
