National Stroke Awareness Month is promoted each year to increase the understanding and prevention of strokes. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel leading to or in the brain is blocked or ruptures. It is important to learn what to look for if you think someone is having a stroke. Knowing these warning signs could help save someone’s life.

 The following is an acronym to help you remember some warning signs of a stroke. Just remember when these happen; you need to act FAST. 

F - Face- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop when asked to smile?

A - Arm – Ask the person to raise their arms. Does one of their arms drift downward when asked to raise their arms?

S – Speech- Is the person’s speech slurred or strange when asked to say simple phrases?

T- Time – Time to call 9-1-1 if any of these signs are present. 

While it is possible for anyone at any age to have a stroke, there are certain risk factors that can increase the possibility of a stroke. Some of these are uncontrollable risk factors while others are controllable. Uncontrollable risk factors include age, gender, race and family history. Controllable risk factors include previous additional health issues, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and/or sodium. 

Some ways that we can help prevent or reduce the risk of stroke are by managing pre-existing conditions and making healthier choices every day. Daily lifestyle choices such as limiting alcohol, eliminating smoking, incorporating physical activity and including a healthy diet high in nutrient dense foods can help to prevent or reduce your overall stroke risk.

For more information, visit the American Stroke Association website at: 

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke