Call 911 if you think you recognize the signs of a stroke. Act FAST and learn to recognize the signs of a stroke:

What is a stroke? Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. The National Stroke Association defines it this way:

A stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.

Did you know?

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in U.S. women. Women have a higher lifetime risk of having a stroke than men.

Stroke By The Numbers

Each year 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.

A stroke happens every 40 seconds.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke.

Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.

Stroke symptoms can include:

paralysis
numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
trouble speaking or understanding speech
confusion
slurring speech
vision problems
trouble walking
loss of balance or coordination
dizziness
severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause

Immediate medical treatment is key to prevent:

brain damage
long-term disability
death