Basilar artery stenosis means the main brain-stem highway is slowly clogging. Trouble often comes in short waves before a bigger hit.

The first red flag is sudden bilateral weakness—both legs or all four limbs feel heavy, rubbery, or give out for seconds to minutes.

Vision can dip in both eyes at once, like a curtain falling, or merge into double sight. Some people describe “gray fuzz” that clears when they sit still.

Dizziness flashes on with head turns or standing up fast. The room doesn’t spin, but you sway as if on a boat and grab walls to stay upright.

Speech slurs or mumbles mid-sentence even though the mind knows what it wants to say. The tongue feels thick and clumsy.

Swallowing hiccups: liquids catch in the throat, or a simple pill needs extra gulps.

Nausea and cold sweat may ride along, mimicking a stomach bug, but the belly itself is fine.

In severe drops, consciousness blinks—head nods, words stop, and the person “zones out” for a few seconds before snapping back.