Brain & Nervous System Stroke Symptoms Print 10 Strange Symptoms That Are Not a Stroke Medically reviewed by facebook linkedin Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on August 05, 2015 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Written by facebook linkedin Written by Heidi Moawad, MD Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications. Learn about our editorial policy Heidi Moawad, MD Updated on April 09, 2019 More in Stroke Symptoms Diagnosis & Treatment Causes & Risk Factors Living With Prevention For Caregivers When you have strange symptoms, you might panic, worried that you could be having stroke. Fortunately, strokes are not that common, especially for healthy people who do not have risk factors and who have never had a TIA. A stroke is a medical emergency and it is best to get urgent medical attention if you are not sure whether or not you or someone else is having a stroke. You can save someone's life if you spend 3 minutes learning how to recognize a stroke. The great news is that some strange neurological symptoms are not strokes, and some are not even medical problems. So, if you experience any of these, rest assured that you aren't having a stroke. 1 Déjà Vu Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Déjà vu is an interesting and peculiar feeling that happens when you have a sense that something about your situation is familiar but you can't understand why. There are plenty of explanations for déjà vu- perhaps something about the smell, the colors or the climate is recognizable but is buried in the deep, possibly irrelevant parts of your memory. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that while déjà vu is weird and sometimes even a little bit scary, it is not a stroke. 2 You Can't Remember Someone's Name Hero Images/Getty Images This can absolutely drive you crazy, especially if you remember special details about a person's life, feelings he has told you about, and even how you met each other. Sometimes, we are more focused on getting to know the distinctive traits that make a person unique than in collecting facts that seem like 'data.' So, while it may be embarrassing that you can't remember the name of the lady you talk to at the water cooler, don't worry about how well your brain is working if you remember that she told you about planning her son's wedding, but not her name. Chances are, you are more of a friend than you give yourself credit for, and that is not the sign of a stroke. 3 You Have Ringing in Your Ears Joel W. Rogers/Getty Images This problem is so common that most people have experienced it. The perception of ringing is not a sign of danger or brain damage. Ringling in the ears may be an early sign of hearing loss, but more often than not, it is just something that happens and gets better on its own without any consequences at all. If it continues or reappears, see a doctor, but it is not an emergency or a sign of a stroke. 4 You Have Tingling in Both of Your Feet Michael Heim/EyeEm/Getty Images If your feet tingle, that could mean that you have a circulation problem, a nerve problem or a medication side effect. It could also mean that you have been sitting in a position that temporarily put too much pressure on your feet or legs. If the problem recurs or persists, you should make an appointment to see your doctor because it might be an early sign of a treatable medical problem that will only get worse unless it is treated. But tingling in both of your feet is not life-threatening, nor is it the sign of a stroke. *Strangely enough, tingling on one side is a serious problem, and you need to get that checked out urgently. 5 You Have Tremors or Trembling Kathleen Finlay / Getty Images If you notice that you are shaking, you will likely become worried, uncomfortable and self-conscious. Most tremors are related to Parkinson’s disease or to a condition called benign essential tremor or to a medication side effect. Because there are effective treatments, tremors certainly need to be checked out by your doctor. There are rare cases of strokes causing Parkinson's like symptoms. But even in those instances, the tremors are not the sign that a stroke is happening, but instead an indication of many silent strokes over time. If you have tremors or trembling, don't panic. Call your doctor and make an appointment. Expect some medical tests and don’t be surprised if it takes a few months to get the medication just right. But don't be alarmed because tremors, trembling and shaking are not signs of a stroke. 6 You Have Hearing Loss BSIP/Getty Images Hearing loss is frustrating because it can truly interfere with your life. However, because of the way the brain and nerves are organized, hearing loss is not the consequence of a stroke. Your ability to hear effectively is important for your quality of life. There are options to help you hear as well as possible and your doctor may be able to diagnose a treatable cause of your hearing problem. So, while you need a medical evaluation if your hearing is not up to par, you needn't worry that a stroke is the cause. 7 You Hate Your Job (That You Used to Love) Zero Creatives/Getty While you might wonder, 'What is wrong with me?" it is not unusual to become stressed out or frustrated by work tasks that once seemed enjoyable. A hostile work environment, boredom, lack of job promotions and more can make you question your abilities and your whole life direction, especially if you were previously motivated and enthusiastic. While you certainly need to address these issues, the feeling of frustration at work is not a sign of stroke. 8 You Feel Cramping in Your Hand After Hours on the Computer Universal Images Group/Getty Images Cramping can be uncomfortable, painful and can even make you a little stiff. Increased computer use has made hand cramping and carpal tunnel syndrome more common than ever before. A stroke is never related to overuse of your muscles. If you notice any body part becoming sore, tender or strained after hours and hours of use- take a break, but don't sweat it about a stroke. 9 You Have Unusual Dreams Rob Van Petten/Getty Images Unusual dreams, even nightmares can be disconcerting. But no matter how strange or frightening your dreams are, the content of your dreams is not caused by strokes. Anxiety, medications and a few medical problems can cause unsettling dreams. If the problem is frequent, seek a medical evaluation. But you do not need to worry that bad dreams are caused by a stroke even if you dream that you are having a stroke. 10 You Have Paranoid Fears PeopleImages/Getty Images Strokes do not cause someone to mistakenly see or hear things that are not there. And they cannot cause you to hear threatening voices or to be paranoid. If you experience any of these symptoms or you are having outbursts or noticing trouble getting along with friends or family members, you need a professional medical evaluation sooner rather than later. You might have a treatable medical condition or a medication side effect, but these problems are not symptoms of a stroke. A Stroke Is a Medical Emergency A stroke is a medical emergency. If you are concerned about any of the problems mentioned above, call your doctor's office to make an appointment, but you do not need to fear a life-altering stroke. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. DéJà Vu Experiences in Healthy Subjects Are Unrelated to Laboratory Tests of Recollection and Familiarity for Word Stimuli, O'Connor AR, Moulin CJ, Frontiers in Psychology, November 2013.