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Muscle Weakness: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments, and More

Serious Signs and Symptoms that Could Be Life Threatening

Muscle weakness can occasionally be a sign of a serious illness, especially if it strikes quickly and only affects one side of the body. This is frequently one of the initial indications of a stroke.

If you or someone you are with experiences any of these potentially fatal symptoms, get medical help right away:

  • abrupt numbness or weakness, typically on one side of the body, in the arms, legs, or face
  • sudden difficulty understanding, speaking, or hearing others
  • abrupt vision changes, especially if they only affect one eye
  • suddenly feeling unsteady, having trouble walking, or being uncoordinated
  • sudden, excruciating headache with no apparent cause

If it is the case of a stroke, [5] every second matters. One way to reduce the amount of brain damage that a stroke can cause is to get treatment right away. If someone has a stroke, understanding the symptoms is the first step in saving their life.