Warning Signs
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and over 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
The symptoms of a stroke can vary widely and depend on the area of the brain affected.
Know the Stroke Warning Signs:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
ACT F.A.S.T.
Face: Does one side of the face droop? Is the smile uneven?
Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Are words slurred? Is there difficulty in speaking or understanding?
Time: If the person shows any symptoms, call 911 immediately!
Time is Brain. Every minute Counts.