What to do immediately
Call 108 or seek emergency care immediately if a stroke is suspected. Do not wait for an appointment, a social-media reply or this practice’s phone to be answered. Note the time the person was last known to be well.
A stroke can cause sudden loss of normal brain function. The person may not recognise what is happening or may be unable to explain it. A relative, colleague or bystander may be the person who first notices the change and starts the emergency response.
If the symptoms disappear, urgent assessment is still needed. A transient episode can be a warning sign. It should not be dismissed because the person seems better when help arrives.
Recognise sudden warning signs
A useful reminder is BE FAST: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time. Look for a sudden change from the person’s usual state.
- Balance: new difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of coordination.
- Eyes: sudden loss of vision or a new visual disturbance.
- Face: one side droops or the smile becomes uneven.
- Arm: sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side.
- Speech: new slurring, difficulty finding words or difficulty understanding speech.
- Time: seek emergency help immediately.
Not every stroke has every sign. A sudden severe headache, collapse or other abrupt neurological change also needs urgent assessment. These signs do not prove stroke, but waiting to establish the cause at home can lose time.
While emergency help is being arranged
Tell the emergency service that a stroke is suspected, describe the symptoms and provide the location. Report when the person was last well, including if they woke with symptoms. This information can help the hospital team even when the exact start time is unknown.
Do not give food or drink to someone who may have difficulty swallowing. Do not give aspirin or other medicine as a home treatment for an undiagnosed stroke: some strokes involve bleeding. Follow instructions from emergency professionals.
If records or a medicine list are readily available, they can help, especially information about blood thinners. Do not delay departure to collect documents, search for a specialist or arrange a scan independently. If the person becomes unresponsive or is not breathing normally, follow the emergency dispatcher’s instructions.
Why urgent brain imaging matters
A stroke may involve an artery blocked by a clot or bleeding in or around the brain. The treatments are different. The emergency team checks the person, blood glucose and other relevant findings, and uses brain imaging to help establish what has happened.
CT or MRI and, in some situations, vessel imaging guide the next steps. The team considers timing, the scan, the severity of symptoms and medical history. Treatment cannot be selected safely from an online description or a video of the person alone.
Do not decide that it is too late to seek help. Some people have treatment options after the earliest period, depending on imaging and other criteria. Everyone with suspected stroke still needs urgent assessment and supportive care.
Where clot removal fits
For an ischaemic stroke caused by a blocked artery, clot-dissolving medicine may be considered when appropriate. A procedure called mechanical thrombectomy can remove a clot from a suitable large vessel in selected patients.
An interventional specialist guides a catheter through a blood vessel to the blocked brain artery. Suction, a temporary stent retriever or a combination can be used. The device used to retrieve a clot is usually removed; the picture does not imply that a permanent stent is routinely left behind.
Selection depends on scans and clinical assessment. Clot removal is not suitable for every stroke and is not a treatment for all types of brain bleeding. Opening an artery cannot guarantee that brain function will return. The procedure also carries risks, including bleeding and vessel injury.
Dr Nachiket Kaneria’s neurointerventional practice includes stroke thrombectomy. The immediate priority for someone with new stroke signs is emergency care and an appropriate receiving team, not arranging an elective visit.
After the emergency phase
Stroke care continues after the first treatment. Monitoring, swallowing assessment, prevention of complications, medicines and rehabilitation may be needed. Physiotherapy, speech and language support and other rehabilitation are planned according to the person’s difficulties.
Recovery varies. The team should explain what is known, what remains uncertain and which changes need reassessment. Family members can help by sharing the person’s usual abilities, communication needs, medicines and support at home.
- What type of stroke occurred, and what do the scans show?
- What treatment was given, and what is being monitored now?
- Is it safe to eat or drink?
- What rehabilitation and prevention plan is needed?
- Which new symptoms need immediate attention?
These questions are for the hospital discussion. They should never delay the first call for help.
Common questions
Should we wait to see whether the symptoms settle?
No. New stroke-like symptoms need emergency assessment, including symptoms that improve or disappear. A person may seem better before a clinician sees them, but that does not make it safe to ignore the event. Describe exactly what happened and when the person was last known to be well.
What if the person wakes up with symptoms?
Seek emergency help immediately and report the last time they were known to be well, as well as when the symptoms were discovered. The hospital team uses clinical assessment and imaging to decide the options. Do not assume that waking with symptoms means treatment is impossible.
Should we contact the preferred specialist first?
Do not delay emergency care while trying to reach a particular doctor. Contact the emergency service or an appropriate emergency department immediately. A specialist can become involved through the receiving team. The website’s contact information is not a substitute for emergency assessment or a confirmed transfer arrangement.
Does clot removal mean recovery is certain?
No. Reopening a blocked artery is an important treatment goal, but the degree of recovery depends on the individual stroke and other factors. The hospital team explains the scan findings, response, complications and rehabilitation needs. A successful technical step should not be interpreted as a promise of a particular neurological outcome.
Emergency action in Ahmedabad and Gujarat
Gujarat’s ambulance helpline is 108. Give the dispatcher the location and say that a stroke is suspected. The emergency team can advise the receiving facility and transport arrangements. Do not spend time comparing websites or waiting for a preferred doctor before starting emergency care.
Consultation-language preferences and records can be communicated once help is underway. For a person who has difficulty speaking, a family member can explain the language normally used and the person’s usual abilities. These details support care, but finding them must not delay the emergency response.
See the treatment mechanism
01A large artery is blocked
02A retriever engages the clot
03Aim: restore blood flow
Sources and scope
Educational information prepared 12 September 2026. General information; individual suitability, risks and follow-up require clinical assessment. The references below explain the underlying condition and treatment choices.