F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech
T – Time to call 911
Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven or lopsided?
Arm weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Time to call 911 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get that person to the hospital immediately.
Other symptoms of stroke
- Sudden numbness
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden trouble seeing
- Sudden trouble walking
- Sudden severe headache
Stroke risk factors
- High blood pressure – Normal blood pressure is below 120/80
- Irregular heartbeat – Otherwise known as atrial fibrillation
- Having diabetes – More than doubles your risk of stroke
- High cholesterol – Increases the risk of blocked arteries
- Smoking – Damages blood vessels, leading to blockages and stroke
Seven ways to prevent stroke
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Control your cholesterol.
- Keep your blood sugar down.
- Get active.
- Eat better.
- Lose weight if you need to.
- Don’t smoke – period.
Stroke prevention behaviors
- Take five – Five-minute fitness breaks are a fun way to achieve your 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
- Include color to your food – Add fruit and vegetables to every meal and snack.
- Step it up – Take the stairs when you can.
- Feel joy – Restore your peace of mind by sometimes unplugging during the day.
Check your risk of a heart attack or stroke by visiting ccccalculator.ccctracker.com.
Information provided by the American Heart Association.