More Important Signs of a Stroke 

Sudden, severe headaches are often a sign that a person is experiencing a stroke, especially if he or she does not have a history of migraines and has not suffered recent head trauma. The person also may experience blurred vision or even vision loss during this time. 

Coordination is key. Many stroke victims have trouble balancing, so you may want to test his or her ability to stand on one leg or walk a straight line. If the person could not walk properly before the potential stroke occurred, test coordination by asking him or her to pick up a light object like a cup and bring it to the lips. Remember that older people may not be able to perform these tasks normally, so a loss of coordination and balance is not always a sure sign of a stroke. 

Any one of these signs on its own is not a definite indicator that the person is suffering a stroke. However, if the symptom is enough to raise the suspicion, he or she should seek medical attention immediately. A stroke is also called a "brain attack" because it does rapid damage to the brain, so any delay in stroke treatment could be life threatening.