When to worry about numbness and tingling with stroke

A stroke can interrupt blood flow to part of the brain, affecting sensation, movement, speech, vision, or coordination. Numbness may involve the face, arm, or leg on one side. It can occur with a drooping smile, confused speech, trouble understanding, sudden vision change, dizziness, or a severe headache.

Note the time the person was last known to be well and call emergency services. Keep them safe and seated or lying down, do not give food, drink, or medicines unless instructed, and do not drive them yourself. Stay with them and follow the emergency operator’s instructions.

Seek emergency care now for sudden numbness or tingling with weakness, facial drooping, speech or understanding problems, new vision loss, severe imbalance, or a sudden severe headache. Improvement does not remove the urgency, because brief symptoms can signal a temporary interruption of brain blood flow.

After assessment, ask what caused the episode, which warning signs should prompt another emergency call, and how prescribed treatment and follow-up reduce the chance of another event.