What Does a Stroke Feel Like?

Having a stroke is one of the scariest situations a person can be in, but what does a stroke feel like? While everyone’s experience is different, there are some common symptoms of a stroke that can help people recognize if they or a loved one may be having a stroke.

Physical Symptoms

One of the first signs of a stroke can be a sudden and intense headache, usually accompanied by a stiff neck or dizziness. A person may also experience numbness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, blurriness or loss of vision in one or both eyes, and/or an inability to coordinate movement.

Cognitive Symptoms

In addition to physical symptoms, stroke patients may feel confused and disoriented. They may experience difficulty understanding things, recalling memories and words, and organizing thoughts. They may also find it difficult to focus on tasks or multitask.

Emotional Symptoms

Feeling overwhelmed and anxious are two of the most common emotional signs of a stroke. Patients have described strokes as feeling “weird” or “not quite right.” They can experience extreme irritability, impatience, and mood swings as well as an intense fear of death.

Recognizing the Signs

It is important to seek immediate medical attention if any of these symptoms begin to develop. Knowing what a stroke feels like and being able to recognize the common signs can help save lives. The quicker a person receives medical attention, the better their chances are of recovering from a stroke without lasting damage.