This is one reason sudden neurological symptoms should be evaluated as a whole rather than judged by a single sign.
If someone suddenly becomes unable to walk normally, especially if the change is accompanied by double vision, weakness, vomiting, or difficulty speaking, urgent medical assessment is essential.
What to do: Treat sudden, unexplained loss of balance or coordination as an emergency when it could represent a stroke. Do not assume that it is simply vertigo or fatigue.
- A Sudden, Severe Headache
A severe headache that appears abruptly and reaches maximum intensity very quickly can indicate a medical emergency.
Although many strokes do not cause a headache, some do. A sudden, unusually intense headache can occur with bleeding in or around the brain, including a hemorrhagic stroke.
People sometimes describe such a headache as dramatically different from anything they have experienced before.
The pain may occur with vomiting, neck stiffness, confusion, fainting, or other neurological symptoms.
