# Signs Your Body May Be Having a Stroke — Never Ignore These Warning Symptoms
A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. When brain tissue is deprived of oxygen, damage can begin within minutes.
One important correction: your body does not reliably warn you that you are “about to have a stroke” hours or days in advance. Stroke symptoms usually appear **suddenly**, and they should be treated as an emergency the moment they begin.
Here are the warning signs everyone should know.
