The main symptoms of stroke are:

• confusion, including trouble with speaking and understanding
• a headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting
• numbness or inability to move parts of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body
• vision problems in one or both eyes
• trouble walking, including dizziness and lack of co-ordination

Strokes can lead to long-term health problems. Depending on how quickly it is diagnosed and treated, an individual can experience temporary or permanent disabilities in the aftermath of a stroke.

In addition to the persistence of the problems listed above, people 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