Educating yourself about stroke can be lifesaving. Knowing when someone is at risk for stroke and what a stroke is, can help you be prepared when it’s time to react.

• Stroke can occur at any age; 1 out of 5 people who have a stroke are under 55 and your chance of stroke increases as you get older. There are nearly 7 million stroke survivors in the U.S.

• More women have stroke than men and more women die from stroke than from breast cancer every year.

• Manageable risk factors include: high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (A-fib), high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, poor circulation, inactivity, and obesity.

• Act FAST. Any of these signs could mean a stroke, and the sooner you call 911, the better the chance of recovery.
Face: Look for an uneven smile.
Arm: Check if one arm is weak.
Speech: Listen for slurred speech.
Time: Call 911 at the first sign.