Stroke's No Joke. Time Lost is Brain Lost - Get Informed

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http://www.healthline.com/blogs/outdoor_health/2008/10/rapid-treatment-for-stroke.html

Know the warning signs of stroke and teach others.

Every minute counts so being informed can help you save your life or that of others.

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you.

Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given within 3 hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death (right behind heart disease and cancer) and the number one cause of adult disability in the United States. The more risks factors you have, the greater your risk.

The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions.  If a stroke occurs and blood flow can't reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won't work as it should.

Risk factors are traits and lifestyle habits that increase the risk of disease. Extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified several factors that increase the risk of stroke. Most of them can be modified, treated or controlled. Some can’t.

This link includes a risk assessment tool, please use it.
http://www.powertoendstroke.org/strokesnojoke.html