Signs That Might Save a Life From Stroke

29. Sudden Changes to One's Voice

A stroke can cause a sudden and uncharacteristic change in a person’s voice. This is not slurred speech, but rather a change in pitch, tone, or quality, such as a sudden hoarseness or a raspy quality. The muscles of the larynx and vocal cords are controlled by cranial nerves that originate in the brainstem, and a stroke can cause a disruption in these signals. When a person's voice suddenly sounds different without a clear cause like a cold or allergies, it can be a subtle but critical indicator of a neurological emergency.

30. Sudden Clumsiness with Fine Motor Skills

While the list mentions difficulty with specific tasks like using a key, a more general sign of a stroke is a sudden onset of clumsiness. This can manifest as an inability to perform routine fine motor skills, like buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, or even writing. The person's hand might feel uncoordinated, or they might struggle to perform a task they've done thousands of times. This is a direct sign that the brain's motor cortex, which controls precise movements, has been affected and requires immediate medical attention.