Headache and seizures can occur within seconds of the blockage. The symptoms for an ischemic stroke are extremely variable. They can be identical to those of a transient ischemic attack, since, in both cases, the clot can produce a blockage in a branch of the carotid or basilar arteries. The blood clot usually affects the opposite side of the body from its location in the brain, with possible loss of feeling on one side of the face, in an arm or leg, or blindness in one eye. The person may have difficulty swallowing.
Speech problems can occur if the left hemisphere of the brain is involved.
The stroke victim may be unable to express thoughts verbally or to understand spoken words. Other symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, loss of muscle tone, major seizures, and possibly coma. Symptoms of Hemorrhagic Stroke Symptoms of a cerebral, or parenchymal, hemorrhage typically begin very suddenly and evolve over several hours and include headache, nausea and vomiting, and altered mental states. When the aneurysm ruptures, the stroke victim may experience a terrible headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, confusion, and altered states of consciousness. The eyes may become fixed in one direction or lose vision.