Brain artery blockage is a full stop in one of the brain’s supply pipes. A clot or plug shuts the lane, and the area downstream runs out of oxygen within minutes. Signs show up fast, often without any warning headache.

The first clue is instant face droop. One corner of the mouth falls, the eyelid sags, and the whole side seems to melt. Ask for a smile—you get a crooked grin or none at all.

Arm drift hits next. Raise both arms and one drops like a rock or floats down slowly. The hand may tingle or feel dead, and the person often says, “I didn’t even notice it fell.”

Speech jams. Words come out slurred, swapped, or missing. A simple name like “coffee” turns into “coh-fee” or vanishes mid-sentence. The speaker hears the mistake but can’t fix it.

Vision cuts out in one slice. A driver sees only the right half of the windshield, or the left lane disappears like someone pulled a shade. Closing one eye at a time proves the problem is in the brain, not the eye itself.

Balance collapses. The person leans or falls toward the weak side, even while standing still. The room isn’t spinning; the brain has lost its inner map of upright.

Numbness can march across the body. It starts in the hand, climbs to the cheek, then slides down the leg in minutes, like a wave rolling up and back.