Act FAST
Stroke is a leading cause of both death and severe, long-term disability—and it’s affecting young people more than ever before. Use FAST to spot the warning signs of stroke:
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911
Other signs of stroke might include: sudden confusion; trouble speaking or understanding language; sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Don’t Hesitate
You should never wait more than five minutes to dial 9-1-1 if you experience even one of the signs above.
Research conducted by The American Stroke Association shows that patients who take a clot-busting drug, or thrombolytic, within three hours of their first stroke symptom can reduce long-term disability from ischemic stroke—the most common type, accounting for about 87 percent of all cases.
Remember, you could be having a stroke even if you’re not experiencing all of the symptoms. And remember to check the time. The responding emergency medical technician or ER nurse at the hospital will need to know when the first symptom occurred.