Reduce Your Risk of Stroke

Dr. Andrew Ringer, a neurovascular specialist at Mayfield Brain & Spine, gives us 7 steps you can take to reduce your risk of stroke. He concludes by telling us how we can recognize the signs of stroke F-A-S-T.

Stroke Symptoms to Know

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body

Difficulty speaking or understanding language

Decreased or blurred vision in one or both eyes

Sudden, severe headache

Unexplained loss of balance or dizziness

If you notice signs of a stroke, think "FAST" and call 9-1-1.

Face Drooping

DOES ONE SIDE OF THE FACE DROOP OR IS IT NUMB?
Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

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, like "The sky is blue."

Time to Call 9-1-1

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-11 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.