Signs That Might Save a Life From Stroke

25. Unexplained Difficulty in Using a Key

A very subtle but telling sign of a stroke is the sudden inability to perform a simple, learned task like using a key. The brain's motor cortex is a precise control center, and a stroke can cause a loss of the fine motor skills required to put a key in a lock, turn a doorknob, or button a shirt. The person may try to perform the task but their hand just won't cooperate. This is a distinct symptom that is not caused by muscle weakness but by a disruption in the brain's ability to send the correct signals to the hand, and it's a clear indication that a stroke is occurring.

26. Sudden Onset of Auditory Issues

While strokes are most often associated with visual symptoms, they can also suddenly affect hearing. A person experiencing a stroke may have a sudden loss of hearing in one or both ears, or a persistent ringing sensation known as tinnitus. These auditory symptoms can occur because the brain's auditory centers or the neural pathways that transmit sound information are being deprived of oxygen. Since these issues are often attributed to age or other minor conditions, they are easily dismissed. However, a sudden, unexplained change in hearing is a critical warning sign that should never be ignored.