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The acronym FAST can help a person to remember the most common symptoms and signs of a stroke, which are:

Face drooping (F): A stroke can cause numbness or weakness on one side of the face. When a person with this symptom tries to smile, only one side of their mouth may respond.
Arm weakness (A): A person having a TIA or stroke may be unable to raise one or both arms above their head and keep them there.
Speech difficulty (S): A person may have difficulty speaking, or their words may not make sense.
Time (T): If a person has any of the above symptoms, seek immediate medical assistance. A stroke is a medical emergency, and receiving urgent treatment can help prevent further injury to the brain.
A person having a stroke may show several symptoms or only one, such as one-sided weakness.

Other symptoms of a stroke include:

headache
dizziness
pain
feeling faint

Females are more likely to report “nontraditional” symptoms such as lightheadedness, headache, and a change in mental status, such as confusion. Males can also exhibit these symptoms.