Did you know that two out of three women will die of heart attack or stroke? Many more than
will die of any cancer. There are several easy ways to tell if someone is having a stroke. An
easy one is the acronym FAST: check for
F – Face. Muscle slackness or weakness that varies between the two halves of the face is a sign.
A – Arms. Have the person hold her arms out at shoulder height. If one droops, that’s a sign of
stroke.
S – Smile. Ask the person to smile. If the smile droops on one side, that’s a sign, too.
T – Time. If their speech is slow or slurred, or they have trouble understanding what you are
saying, that’s a sign of stroke.
Vision problems and loss of balance may also occur, as may a sudden, severe headache with no
known cause.
If someone shows these signs, don’t delay. Call 911! Every minute counts. Note the time, so
you can tell emergency responders when the symptoms began.
If the patient is given a clot-dissolving drug within several hours, long term disability can be
reduced.
Stroke Risks, Brain, Damage, and Death
