Nearly 800,000 Americans die each year from heart disease and stroke, and about 200,000 of these could be prevented, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Knowing the signs and acting FAST can reduce the chances for long-term effects.

Signs

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg – especially one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes or severe headache
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone else has any of these symptoms.

Acting FAST can help a person experiencing a stroke get the best treatment. Make note of the time. Some treatments only work within the first 3 hours after symptoms appear. If you think someone may be having a stroke, act FAST and do the following simple test:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Many of the risk factors for stroke can be prevented. See the infographic from the CDC below.

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/heartdisease-stroke/infographic-text.html

http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm

-rb