Signs of a stroke
With stroke, time is life. "Let's wait and see" is the most dangerous response.
Check immediately — three things
- Face — ask them to smile. Does one side of the mouth droop?
- Arm — ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift down?
- Speech — ask them to repeat a short sentence. Is it slurred?
If any one applies, call 119 immediately. Note the time symptoms began.
Other signs
- Sudden severe headache — "the worst headache of my life"
- Paralysis or numbness down one side
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye, or double vision
- Dizziness, loss of balance, trouble walking
- Sudden confusion, inability to understand speech
What to do
- Call 119 immediately — say "suspected stroke".
- Report when the symptoms started. It is decisive for treatment options.
- Lay them down comfortably. If they vomit, turn them on their side.
- Give nothing to eat or drink — not even water. Swallowing problems can block the airway.
- Don't give medicines such as aspirin on your own initiative. A bleeding stroke would be made worse.
What not to do
- "They'll be better after a sleep" — you lose the treatable window.
- Folk remedies like pricking fingertips — no effect, only lost time.
- Driving them yourself — an ambulance can treat en route.
Where to go
- 119 immediately
- 1339 Korea Disease Control Agency
- 1345 interpretation
- e-gen www.e-gen.or.kr
Questions people ask
The symptoms appeared briefly and went away. It may be a transient ischaemic attack — a warning of a major stroke. Be seen the same day.
Can young people have strokes? Yes. Don't rule it out on age.
I've been told my blood pressure is high. Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for stroke. Manage it regularly. See chronic-disease.
What happens after recovery? Rehabilitation follows. See rehabilitation.
Take care
Always note the time symptoms began and tell 119 and the hospital. The available treatments depend on it. Even if symptoms vanish, be seen that same day.
Related
heart-attack-signs · emergency-symptoms · cpr · chronic-disease · rehabilitation
Source
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency www.kdca.go.kr / As of 2026-08