## 1. Sudden Weakness on One Side
One of the most important warning signs is sudden weakness affecting the:
* Face
* Arm
* Hand
* Leg
It typically occurs on one side of the body.
A person may suddenly be unable to grip normally, lift one arm, or walk steadily. The weakness may disappear quickly during a TIA, which is why some people mistakenly ignore it.
Ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downward or cannot be lifted normally, seek emergency help.
## 2. Numbness or Loss of Sensation
Sudden numbness can occur with or without obvious weakness.
It may feel like:
* Pins and needles
* Loss of sensation
* A strange heavy feeling
* Numbness of one side of the face
* A numb arm or leg
Sudden one-sided numbness is a recognized symptom of both stroke and TIA.
Do not assume it is simply caused by sleeping in an awkward position if it appears suddenly without a clear explanation.
## 3. Facial Drooping
A TIA can temporarily weaken the muscles on one side of the face.
You may notice that:
* One corner of the mouth droops
* The smile becomes uneven
* One eye or side of the face appears lower
* The person says their face feels numb
The **F in FAST** stands for Face because facial drooping is one of the classic warning signs.
Ask the person to smile. If one side does not move normally, treat it as an emergency.
## 4. Trouble Speaking or Understanding Words
A TIA can temporarily affect the areas of the brain responsible for language.
