Key Takeaways Slurred speech can happen when the muscles used for speech are weak, poorly coordinated or affected by the brain, nerves, medicines, alcohol or illness. Sudden slurred speech can be a stroke warning sign. Use FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call 999. If slurred speech comes with face drooping, arm weakness, confusion, severe headache, vision changes, collapse, chest pain or breathing difficulty, seek emergency help. Slurred speech and migraines can sometimes be linked, especially with migraine aura, but new or unusual speech symptoms should still be treated carefully. Progressive or worsening slurred speech should be checked by a GP or referred for specialist assessment. Healthwords has useful migraine, headache and stroke-related resources and medication for managing migraines, but sudden slurred speech should not be managed with online treatment. Call 999. Slurred speech can be worrying, especially if it comes on suddenly or sounds very different from your normal speech. Some people describe it as mumbling, speaking slowly, sounding drunk, not being able to pronounce words clearly, or struggling to move the mouth, tongue or lips properly. There are many possible slurred speech causes. Some are short-lived, such as tiredness, alcohol, migraine, low blood sugar or certain medicines. Others can be serious and need urgent medical help, especially stroke, transient ischaemic attack, head injury, severe infection or neurological conditions. This guide explains what slurred speech can mean, the key stroke warning signs, when to call 999, and what Healthwords resources may help if your symptoms are linked to migraine, headache or another non-emergency concern. What Is Slurred Speech? Slurred speech is when words sound unclear, slow, mumbled, distorted or difficult to understand. It can happen because the muscles involved in speech are not working normally, or because the brain and nerves controlling speech are affected. The NHS describes dysarthria as difficulty speaking caused by weakness in the muscles used for speech. It can make speech sound slurred, slow, quiet, too loud, nasal, strained or monotone, and it may be harder to move the lips, tongue or mouth. Common causes include stroke, severe head injury, brain tumours, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome. It can also be a side effect of some medicines, including some epilepsy medicines. Slurred speech is slightly different from struggling to find the right words. Word-finding problems or difficulty understanding speech can be linked to language difficulties, such as aphasia, while slurring is more about how speech sounds. In real life, these symptoms can overlap, especially during a stroke or neurological event. Slurred Speech Causes: Why It Can Happen Slurred speech causes can range from temporary and treatable to urgent and life-threatening. The context matters. For example, slurred speech after alcohol may have an obvious explanation, but sudden slurred speech with weakness or confusion should be treated as an emergency. Common causes can include: A stroke or transient ischaemic attack, also called a TIA or mini-stroke. Migraine aura. Low blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes. Alcohol or recreational drugs. Side effects from medicines. Head injury or concussion. Infections or fever. Neurological conditions affecting muscles, nerves or brain function. Severe tiredness, dehydration or illness. Problems affecting the mouth, tongue, throat or voice. Low blood sugar can cause symptoms such as shaking, sweating, a fast heartbeat and confusion. The NHS advises calling 999 if someone has very low blood sugar and is not responding normally or is unconscious, especially if glucagon is not available, you do not know how to use it, or they do not recover after glucagon. Head injury is another important cause to consider. The NHS advises calling 999 after a head injury if someone has problems with vision, hearing, walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing, or has numbness or weakness in part of the body.

Panic attacks are actually quite common with around 1 in 10 people experiencing them. They can be a scary experience. Here at Healthwords we believe that knowledge is power, so understanding more about these panic attacks and how to tackle them can hopefully help. We’ll explain when it’s time to see your doctor and what treatment paths are out there.

Chest pain is a broad term, and feels very different depending on the cause. Most chest pain is not anything serious, but cause for concern depends on your particular symptoms, your age and any other medical problems or risk factors you might have for heart problems. Chest pain can be a sign of something serious and life-threatening, such as a heart attack. If there are any concerns, you should seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms can vary from short, sharp jabs, to dull and persistent aches. People are usually very specific about how it feels, and other descriptive terms include feeling heavy, tight, burning, crushing or searing. It can come on quickly or gradually. It can be fleeting for seconds to minutes, or last several hours. It can occur while walking or exercising, lying down or when sitting doing nothing, and you might notice other symptoms alongside, like a cough, sweating, feeling sick or feeling the heart beating fast or hard. All of these specifics help us doctors to determine which part of the body is causing the pain and what the underlying problem is. Let’s talk you through the causes, depending on which part of the body is involved, and also, importantly, when you should worry.