Strokes occur quickly, and as such their symptoms often appear suddenly without warning.
The main symptoms of stroke are as follows:
Confusion, including trouble with speaking and understanding
Headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting
Numbness of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the body
Trouble with seeing, in one or both eyes
Trouble with walking, including dizziness and lack of co-ordination.
Strokes can lead to long-term problems. Depending on how quickly it is diagnosed and treated, the patient can experience temporary or permanent disabilities in the aftermath of a stroke. In addition to the problems listed above continuing, patients may also experience the following:
Bladder or bowel control problems
Depression
Pain in the hands and feet that gets worse with movement and temperature changes
Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body
Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.