A stroke strikes suddenly and recognising its symptoms is the key to treating it successfully preventing death. Here are the most glaring signs of a stroke that could help save your life. The signs and symptoms of stroke include numbness weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. There is sudden confusion severe headache with no known cause and trouble in speaking understanding seeing walking dizziness or loss of balance. Stroke is diagnosed by a clinical (neurological) examination and imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans which determine the type and cause of stroke. Use the handy mnemonic