Did ex-congressman Ron Paul suffer a stroke on Zoom? Here are telltale signs

During a live taping Friday of his show “Liberty Report,” former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul suffered a medical emergency, media outlets report.

A video clip from the taping went viral on Twitter. Paul was interviewing a guest via Zoom when his speech suddenly became impaired, the clip shows.

While some have speculated Paul may have had a stroke, details about what caused the former lawmaker’s condition have not been released.

According to Texas Health Resources, stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. “Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot, bursts or ruptures,” the agency says.

The warning signs of a stroke can sometimes be easily read, and the person suffering a stroke should get medical attention immediately.

Here are signs of stroke, according to the American Stroke Association, which refers to “F.A.S.T. warning signs”):

F - FACE: The face can droop and normal facial functions aren’t working.

A - ARMS: Can the person raise both arms or does one drift downward?

S - SPEECH: This is what happened to Paul when conducting his interview. His speech shifted mid-sentence. When a person suffers a stroke, it’s difficult for them to repeat a simple phrase and their speech becomes slurred or odd.

T- TIME: Time is a huge factor when observing any of these signs, and medical help should be sought immediately.

The American Stroke Association says that strokes can be overcome if caught in time, and rehabilitation is the key to recovery.

After Paul’s news broke, numerous lawmakers reached out to the former congressman on Twitter to express their well wishes.

Many others also took to Twitter to express their concerns and offer prayers.

On Paul’s official Twitter account, a tweet was posted with a photo of Paul in a hospital gown giving a thumbs up.

“Message from Ron Paul: “I’m doing fine. Thank you for your concern,”” the tweet read.

Paul’s son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, posted his father’s tweet on his Facebook page, thanking people for their prayers.

The 85-year-old Texas congressman has run on both Libertarian and Republican party tickets and first served in 1976. Son Rand Paul is the junior senator for Kentucky.